Northfield, Minn. – Although the Gustavus women’s swimming and diving team has not competed in a scored meet since Dec. 1, any rust was not apparent on Friday night in the squad’s dual meet against Carleton. The Gusties kicked off the new year with a 185-108 over the Knight’s, as junior Alissa Tinklenberg (Willmar, Minn.) turned in Gustavus’ top swim of the evening by breaking the pool record in the 200 backstroke.
“After a tough training week, I was very pleased with the top-to-bottom showing from our gals,” said head coach Jon Carlson. “It was great to see them come out and compete at such a high level to start the second half of our season.”
Tinklenberg swam a 59.78 to finish first in the 100 backstroke before topping the Carleton’s pool record in the 200 back later in the meet. The junior touched the wall in 2:08.89, touching out the second place finisher from Carleton by nine seconds.
Jennifer Strom (So., Rochester, Minn.) also posted a pair of first place victories in the breaststroke races. Strom won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:09.17 and the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:32.67.
Katie Olson (So., North Oaks, Minn.), Leah Anderson (Fy., Apple Valley, Minn.), and Carolyn Fittipaldi (Fy., Edina, Minn.) all scored finishes on top of the podium at the meet. Olson won the 100 freestyle with a time of 54.37 and also placed runner-up in the 50 free with a time of 24.96. Anderson won the 200 free in 2:00.20, and Fittipaldi took the 200 butterfly in 2:24.39.
Diver Shelby Walsh (Fy., Litchfield, Minn.) recorded a first place mark in the one-meter (178.90) and also a second place finish in the three-meter (173.30). Heather Funai (So., Lincolnwood, Ill.) won the three-meter diving (177.10) while also placing second in the one-meter (177.60).
The Gustavus 200 medley relay team comprised of Tinklenberg, Strom, Olson, and Laura Drake (Jr., Mendota Heights, Minn.) swam a 1:52.25 to take first and register Gustavus’ final win of the night.
The Gustavus women’s swimming and diving team will be back in the pool on next weekend when it travels to Grinnell, Iowa to take part in the Grinnell College Invitational on Jan. 18-19.