Northfield, Minn. – The Gustavus women’s swimming and diving team opened its 2012-13 season with a head-to-head dual against rival St. Olaf College on Friday night at the Skoglund Center Natatorium. After a hard-fought meet, the Gusties fell to the Oles by the score of 169-131.
Gustavus registered five event wins and 20 top three finishes in its season-opening competition.
Sophomore Jennifer Strom (Rochester, Minn.) stole the show in Gustavus’ first outing with three individual event victories. Strom took the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.35, the 200 breaststroke in 2:24.81, and also added a win in the 200 IM with a time of 2:13.13.
The Gusties benefited from a strong showing from their divers as well. Both Heather Funai (So., Lincolnwood, Ill.) and Shelbie Walsh (Fy., Litchfield, Minn.) tallied a first place finish in diving. Funai won the one-meter competition with a score of 148.05, and Walsh placed first in the three-meter with a mark of 217.80. Funai also placed third in the three-meter, while Walsh placed second in the one-meter.
Alissa Tinklenberg (Jr., Willmar, Minn.) and Laura Drake (Jr., Mendota Heights, Minn.) each registered three finishes on the podium. Tinklenberg touched the wall in second place in the 200 free (156.97) and 200 backstroke (2:10.01), while also adding a third place mark in the 500 freestyle (5:25.16). Drake scored a runner up finish in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:02.84, and placed third in both the 200 butterfly (2:19.85) and 200 IM (2:17.84).
Katie Olson (So., North Oaks, Minn.) also had a nice meet in the sprints, placing second in the 50 free in 25.22 and finishing third in the 100 free in 55.55. Annie Fittipaldi (Fy., Edina, Minn.) placed runner-up in the 100 free with a time of 11:00.57, while McKenna Jones (So., Faribault, Minn.) and Ashley Lager (Fy., St. Peter, Minn.) both tallied third place finishes – Jones in the 1,000 free (11:07.13) and Lager in the 100 back (1:02.32).
The women’s 200-free relay team consisting of Sophia Iaquinta (So., Lincoln, Neb.), Tarin Anding (Fy., Sartell, Minn.), Olson, and Tinklenberg also touched the wall first in its race, going 1:39.37 to bring the meet to a close.
The Gustavus women’s swimming and diving team will be back in the pool on Saturday, Nov. 10 when it travels to Sioux City, Iowa to take part in the Morningside Invitational.