Select members of the Gustavus men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams took part in the last home meet held in legendary O’Shaughnessy Pool on the campus of the University of St. Thomas on Friday night in St. Paul, Minn. In front of a standing-room only crowd, both Tommie teams came out victorious in the meet. The Tommie women swimmers defeated the Gusties by the the score of 43-32, while the Tommie men won 49-36.
On the women’s side, three Gustavus swimmers registered first place finishes in the shortened dual meet. Carrie Gundersen won both the 220 freestyle (2:13.17) and 100 freestyle (56.45). Carley Mosher took first in the 150 backstroke (1:36.19) and third in the 440 freestyle, while Maggie Hansvick won the 200 breaststroke (2:36.17).
Dajana Vidovic had a good night, taking second in both the 50 (26.11) and 100 freestyle (56.49). Also finishing in second place was Mary Jo Behr in the 100 butterfly (1:05.67). Third place finishers included Anika Erickson in the 200 breaststroke, and Sara Hund in the 50 freestyle. The 300 medley relay team of Mosher, Hansvick, and Hund took second, while the 400 freestyle relay team of Behr, Vidovic, Hund and Gundersen also took second.
Just two members of the Gustavus men’s team were victorious in the meet. Skylar Davis won the 440 freestyle (4:18.97) and placed second in the 220 freestyle (2:01.22). William Schultze won the 200 breaststroke (2:15.46) and finished third in the 50 freestyle (22.67). Whitaker Davis and Paul Kirihara also swam a solid meet as they each placed second in two events. Whitaker in the 100 (50.22) and 440 freestyle (4:22.24), and Kirihara in the 150 backstroke (1:28.70) and 300 medley relay.
Ross Elenkiwich was the other top Gustavus finisher as he took second in the 100 butterfly (54.83). The Gustavus 300 medley relay team of Kirihara, Schultze, and Peter Roth placed second, while Whitaker and Skylar Davis, Roth, and Ben Stewart finished second in the 400 freestyle relay.
Emotions ran high pool-side as the 70-year history of the O’Shaughnessy Natatorium came to an end. Tommie teams competed in the facility since it was built in 1940. The meet concluded with a standing applause as the crowd congratulated the careers of 14 St. Thomas seniors in their last home meet.