Grinnell, Iowa – The Gustavus Adolphus women’s swimming and diving team moved up one spot to finish second with 922 points on the final day of the 2015 Grinnell College Invitational held over the weekend at the Grinnell Natatorium in the Charles Benson Bear Recreation and Athletic Center. Sitting in third with 442 points after day one, Gustavus tallied 480 points on Saturday to jump past host Grinnell who placed third with 919 points. The University of Nebraska-Omaha won the two-day, 10-team meet with a score of 1,067.
“We knew reclaiming the top spot on the podium was going to be a challenge without the help of senior leaders Jenny Strom and Katie Olson, but we were prepared for that going in,” said Head Coach Jon Carlson. “To make up the difference and eventually pass Grinnell on the final day took a lot of guts and some outstanding swims. I’m proud of our effort all weekend. This is yet another example of what this team can accomplish when it narrows its focus on a common goal.”
Gustavus recorded three event wins and a total of ten top three finishes on Saturday. The relays did their part with a pair a wins in the 200-medley and 400-freestyle. In the 200-medley relay team consisting of Hayley Booher (So., Warren, Vt.), Morgan Field (Jr., Albert Lea, Minn.), Kate Reilly (Fy., Hastings, Minn.), and Danielle Klunk (Sr., Appleton, Wis.) out-touched the field with a time of 1:51.27. Klunk, Nicole Lohman (So., North Mankato, Minn.), Reilly, and Leah Anderson (Jr., Apple Valley, Minn.) teamed up to take the 400-free relay with a time of 3:35.51.
For the second day in a row, Kate Reilly led Gustavus on an individual level. The rookie won the 50 free with a time of 24.27 and placed runner-up in the 100 butterfly with a time of 59.01. Reilly finished the weekend with two wins (50, 100 free) and two second place swims (200 IM, 100 fly).
Hayley Booher and Heather Funai (Sr., Lincolnwood, Ill.) both turned in runner-up efforts on Saturday; Booher in the 400 IM with a time of 4:41.91 and Funai in the three-meter diving competition with a score of 377.20.
Leah Anderson, Danielle Klunk, Michelle Campeau (Fy., Rochester, Minn.), and Libby Larson (Sr., Detroit Lakes, Minn.) rounded out Gustavus’s top performers with third place finishes, respectively. Anderson went 1:58.11 in the 200 free, Klunk recorded a 1:00.27 in the 100 butterfly, Campeau touched the wall in 25.05 in the 50 free, and Larson swam a 18:43.20 in the 1,650 free.
The Gustavus swimming and diving team will close out their MIAC schedule on Saturday, Jan. 24 with a home dual against the University of St. Thomas beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Vic Gustafson Pool.