The Gustavus Adolphus women’s swimming and diving team finished with a total of 94 points to take 11th place at the 2012 2012 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships held March 21-24 in the IU Natatorium located in Indianapolis.
“I am pleased with the way were able to finish the meet. The ladies battled all week and it was a great way to end the weekend,” said Head Coach Jon Carlson.
The final day of competition was once again highlighted by sensational sophomore Alissa Tinklenberg (Willmar, Minn.) who followed up an All-American day three with another record-breaking performance on the final day of the NCAA Championships. Simply put, Tinklenberg’s showing at this season’s NCAA Championships will go down in the Gustavus history books as the best all-time by a Gustavus women’s swimmer at the national meet. To cap the meet, Tinklenberg swam a 2:01.18 in the finals of the 200 backstroke to place seventh, earning herself All-America distinction for the fourth time in the meet. “Tink” earned a spot in the championship heat after going 2:00.92 in the morning preliminaries, breaking her own school record time of 2:00.99. Over the four-day meet, the Willmar, Minn. product garnered All-America honors in the 200-free relay, 400-medley relay, 100 backstroke, and 200 backstroke. She is the first Gusties swimmer to become an All-American four times over at the NCAA Championships. No other Gustie swimmer has achieved All-America status in two individual races.
“Alissa had one of the finest weekends in school history – four All-America awards in one meet! That is unprecedented by a Gustavus swimmer and coaching staff and her teammates could not be more proud of her accomplishments,” said Carlson.
Jennifer Strom (Rochester, Minn.) also competed individually on day four. Strom touched the wall in 2:25.53 in the 200 breaststroke to finish 26th.
In the final race of the 2012 NCAA Championships, Kelsey Lucia (St. Cloud, Minn.), Sarah Hund (Willmar, Minn.), Katie Olson (North Oaks, Minn.), and Tinklenberg teamed up to place 14th in the 400-freestyle relay after recording a time of 3:30.31.
Emory University took home the NCAA Championship after recording 639 points at the meet. Williams College placed second with 453 points, while Denison University rounded out the top-three in third with 420 points.