St. Peter, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus women’s swimming and diving team got its taste of first intercollegiate competition on Saturday afternoon with a 200-100 dual victory over UW-Eau Claire at the Vic Gustafson Pool. The Gusties recorded a total of 13 event victories and 25 individual event top three finishes.
“It feels good to be back in the pool and compete against an opponent other than ourselves,” said Head Coach Jon Carlson. “The women turned in a great all-around performance and I’m happy with our competition level this early in the season. After a month of non-stop training, it was good to see our hard work pay off in a dual meet setting. We have a long season ahead of us, but I’m proud of our start and pleased with our competitiveness.”
Individual standouts for Gustavus included Hayley Booher (So., Warren, Vt.) and Kate Reilly (Fy., Hastings, Minn.) who both turned in three individual event victories. Booher took gold in both backstroke races, winning the 100 back with a time of 1:01.21 and the 200 back with a time of 2:10.57. She also added a win in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:13.36. Reilly, in her first collegiate meet, dominated the sprints by winning the 50 freestyle in 24.33 and the 100 freestyle in 53.28. The rookie also tacked on a first place finish in the 100 butterfly with a time of 58.31.
Senior Jennifer Strom (Rochester, Minn.) and junior Leah Anderson (Apple Valley, Minn.) also turned in a pair of individual race wins. Strom was the meet’s top breastroker with first place swims in the 100 (1:07.50) and 200 (2:28.18), while also finishing runner-up in the 200 IM (2:14.47). Leah Anderson touched the wall first in the 200 free (1:59.28) and 500 free (5:23.18), and took third in the 200 backstroke (2:17.29).
Sammy Jagler (Fy., Eagan, Minn.) posted Gustavus’ other individual event win by taking first in the 100 butterfly with a time of 2:16.34.
The Gusties also won both of the afternoon’s relays. Hayley Booher, Jenny Strom, Danielle Klunk (Sr., Appleton, Wis.), and Katie Olson (Sr., North Oaks, Minn.) teamed up to win the 200-medley relay with a time of 1:50.95, and Tarin Anding (Jr., Sartell, Minn.), Olson, Klunk, and Reilly won the 400-free relay with a time of 3:39.96.
The Gustavus women’s swimming and diving team will be back in the pool on Saturday, Nov. 8 when it hosts St. Cloud State and MSU, Mankato in a triangular beginning at 1:00 p.m.