NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The St. Olaf College men's and women's swimming and diving teams both dropped their Senior Day Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) duals to Carleton College on Saturday afternoon at Thorpe Pool.
The St. Olaf women won eight of the 16 events but were edged by the Knights, 154-146, while the Ole men won just one event in a 216-67 defeat. The meet was the annual joint Senior Day meet for the two programs, as the Oles celebrated their classes of
Lars Christiason,
Kyle Colby,
Brendan Conway,
Andrew Noecker, and
Tim Rizzo for the men and
Annika Cleven,
Julia Cordes,
Sarah Giovannozzi,
Brynn Hemphill,
Maria Newton,
Emily Pelszynski,
Allison Purdum,
Kylie Sieben,
Brydie Stewart, and
Maureen Wainwright for the women.
Rizzo was the lone event winner for St. Olaf on the men's side, claiming the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:07.42. He was also second in both the 200-yard butterfly (2:05.19) and 200-yard individual medley (2:01.69).
First year
Paige Steenblock was a bright spot for the women, winning the 1,000-yard freestyle (11:05.76), 200-yard butterfly (2:15.81), and 200-yard individual medley (2:16.95), including winning the latter by over seven seconds. Sophomore
Lexi Cucchiaro also won multiple events, touching the wall first in the 200-yard freestyle (2:00.36) and 500-yard freestyle (5:27.71), while placing second to Steenblock in the 1,000-yard freestyle (11:12.59).
On her Senior Day, Cleven recorded a first-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly and was the runner-up to Steenblock in the 200-yard butterfly (2:17.35). Sophomore
Ellen Varley matched Cleven with two top-two finishes, winning the 100-yard freestyle (55.98) and trailing only Cleven in the 100-yard butterfly (1:03.72).
Cleven and Cucchiaro were also part of St. Olaf's first-place 400-yard freestyle relay (3:44.91) and were joined by Purdum and junior
Tatum Hauck.
The Oles compete at the two-day Minnesota Challenge at the University of Minnesota's Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3-4.
