MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Th Gustavus men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams concluded two-day competition at the Minnesota Challenge Saturday on the campus of the University of Minnesota, which served as a final tune up in preparation for the MIAC Championships.
MEN
The Gustie men were highlighted by a top finish from Tanner Sonnek (So., North Mankato, Minn.). Sonnek was the runner-up in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 57.11.
Multiple other top-10 times came from Zach Dawson (Fy., Eagan, Minn.) and Logan Bican (Fy., Monticello, Minn.), and Anders Wallock (Jr., Wheaton, Ill.). Dawson finished in seventh place with a time of 4:21.62 in the 400-yard individual medley. In one-meter diving, Bican posted 255.35 points to place sixth. Wallock claimed a ninth place finish in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a time of 17:25.57.
The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Will Clark (Fy., Northfield, Minn.), Adam Peters (Sr., Montevideo, Minn.), Sonnek, and Matt Allison (Fy., Grand Rapids, Minn.), clocking in at 3:17.88 for a sixth place finish.
WOMEN
On the women’s side, Gustavus found success with several finishes near the top. Kate Reilly (Jr., Hastings, Minn.) grabbed the top finish for the Gusties as she earned a runner-up finish in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 58.62. Reilly also finished in 10th place in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 54.22.
In the 400-yard individual medley, Hayley Booher (Sr., Warren, Vt.) finished seventh at 4:51.39 while Haley Pesik (So., Eagan, Minn.) clocked in at 4:54.89 for a ninth place finish. Pesik also turned in a time of 2:31.94 in the 200-yard breaststroke, good for sixth place.
In the 200-yard backstroke, two Gusties finished eighth and ninth. Rachel Thate (Fy., North Mankato, Minn.) came in at 2:14.90 and Marina Rizzo (Sr., Woodbury, Minn.) at 2:15.06.
Coming in at fifth place in the 1,650-yard freestyle was Grace Carlson (So., St. Peter, Minn.), at 18:56.32.
Kennedy Holwerda (Jr., Willmar, Minn.) claimed an eighth place finish in the 100-yard backstroke, finishing at 1:01.64.
Additionally, three relay squads finished strong. The 800-yard freestyle relay team of Holwerda, Sydney Hallmark (So., Cedarburg, Wis.), Nicole Lohman (Sr., North Mankato, Minn.), and Thate finished in second place at 8:14.72. The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Lohman, Reilly, Hallmar, and Maggie Webster (So., Apple Valley, Minn.) finished third with at time of 3:43.46. Finally, the 200-yard medley relay team of Michelle Simms (So., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), Pesik, Reilly, and Maggie Webster (So., Apple Valley, Minn.), were fifth with a time of 1:51.72.
In two weeks, Gustavus will return to the University of Minnesota to compete in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships.