It was a busy Saturday for the Gustavus men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams. While half the squad was in Winona, Minn. taking part in the Saint Mary’s University Invitational, the other half was in Eau Claire, Wis. competing in the UW-Eau Claire Invitational.
At the Saint Mary’s Invite, the Gustavus women placed second with 700 points, while the men finished second with 645 points. The University of St. Thomas won the women’s competition with a score of 796 and the men’s competition with a score of 980.
In Eau Claire, the Gusie men suffered a 174-120 loss at the hands of UW-Eau Claire. The women took part in a double dual, defeating UW-Eau Claire 181-130 and falling to Northern Michigan University 168-119.
At the Saint Mary’s Invite, Morgan Field (So., Albert Lea, Minn) recorded two finishes inside the top three. Field placed second in the 200 breastroke (2:40.30) and third in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.90). Annie Fittipaldi (So., Edina, Minn.), Josie Wittwer (Jr., Foley, Minn.), and Amanda Winslow (So., Montrose, Colo.) all recorded third place finishes – Fittipaldi in the 1,000 free (11.29.92), Wittwer in the 200 free (2:08.36), and Winslow in the 500 free (5:35.97).
The women’s 200 free relay team of Missy Garnder (Fy., Bloomington, Minn.), Lauren Martens (Fy., Sartell, Minn.), Wittwer, and Jenna Muntifering (Fy., Buffalo, Minn.) placed second with a time of 1:49.02.
Sam Hanson (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.) and Bennet Woltjer (So., Kandiyohi, Minn.) both reached the podium in the diving competitions. Hanson placed second on the three-meter (185.50) and third on the one-meter (172.30), while Woltjer came in runner-up on the one-meter (200.35).
Trent Youngdahl (Fr., Deephaven, Minn.) had a strong day with three fourth place finishes in the 50 free (23.66), 1,000 free (51.66), and 100 butterfly (58.13). Tyler Gort (Fr., Montevideo, Minn.) placed fourth in both the 100 breaststroke (1:04.43) and 200 breaststroke (2:27.76).
At the competition in Eau Claire, Alissa Tinklenberg (Sr., Willmar, Minn.) and Danielle Klunk (Jr., Appleton, Wis.) paced the Gustie women with a pair of gold medal swims each. Tinklenberg dominated the backstroke races, while Klunk took care of business in the butterfly races. Alissa won the 100 with a time of 58.63 and the 200 with a time of 2:09.60. Danielle posted a time of 59:36 in the 100 and took the 200 with a time of 2:12.49.
Hayley Booher (Fy., Warren, Vt.) and Jennifer Strom (Jr., Rochester, Minn.) both provided sold points with three finishes inside the top three. Booher placed second in the 200 IM (2:14.22), and third in both the 100 (1:01.10) and 200 (2:11.99) backstroke races. Strom came in second in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.79), and third in both the 200 breaststroke (2:32.37) and 200 IM (2:16.84).
Leah Anderson (So., Apple Valley, Minn.) and Katie Olson (Jr., North Oaks, Minn.) rounded out the top individual female competitors for Gustavus. Anderson finished second in the 100 free (55.63) and third in the 50 free (25.75). Olson placed second in the 100 free (55.63) and third in the 50 free (25.75).
The 200-free relay team of Tinklenberg, Klunk, Olson, and Tarin Anding (So., Sartell, Minn.) took first with a time of 1:39.84, while the women’s 400-medley relay team consisting of Tinklenberg, Strom, Klunk, and Olson finished runner-up in 4:00.95.
Standouts for the Gustie men at Eau Claire included Zac Solis (Jr., Centennial, Colo.), Jeff Nelson (So., Maple Grove, Minn.), Dante Colucci (So., Summit, N.J.), and Matt Kuckler (Fr., St. Paul, Minn.).
Solis provided a pair of gold medal performances, winning the 1,000 free with a time of 10:31.07 and the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:03.16. Nelson won the 200 free after touching the wall in 1:52.76, and also placed runner-up in the 100 free (49.97) and third in the 50 free (22.98). Colucci swam first in the 100 backstroke in 56.21 and came in second in the 200 back in 2:05.33. Kuckler turned in the men’s team’s final individual event win by taking the 200 IM with a time of 2:10.08.
Tommy Panetti (Jr., Bloomington, Minn.) added a second place finish in the 500 free (5:18.02) and a third place finish in the 1,000 free (10:55.54). Jacob Stern (So., Rosemount, Minn.) finished second in the 200 IM (2:13.46) and third in the 200 breaststroke (2:23.69).
Elliot Hoekstra (Sr., Mendota Heights, Minn.), Ross Larson (Jr., Brookings, S.D.), and Sam Olson-Anstett (Sr., Shoreview, Minn.) rounded out the squad’s top individual performers. Hoekstra finished runner-up in the 200 breaststroke (2:22.80), Larson placed second in the 100 butterfly (56.27), and Olson-Anstett came in third in the 100 butterfly (57.08).
Jeff Nelson, Dante Colucci, Sam Olson-Anstett, and Tommy Payne (So., Montevideo, Minn.) teamed up to finish second in the 200-free relay with a time of 1:31.03, and Colucci, Jacob Stern, Ross Larson, and Mike McLain (Fr., Willmar, Minn.) joined up to take third in the 400 medley relay in 3:47.55.
The Gusties will be back in the action on Saturday, Nov. 9 when they host St. Cloud State and MSU, Mankato at the Vic Gustafson Pool at 1:00 p.m.