ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The College of Saint Benedict swim and dive team collected four event titles and 20 top-five finishes Saturday (Nov. 15) but fell, 203–90, to NCAA Division II St. Cloud State at Halenbeck Hall Aquatic Center.
Junior standout Haley Zelen (Shakopee, Minn.) powered CSB with three individual victories. Zelen won the 100 butterfly in 56.66, narrowly missing her school record of 56.33 set a week earlier. She added a win in the 100 freestyle with a time of 52.34 — the second-fastest mark in program history — and topped the field in the 50 butterfly in 25.39. Zelen also helped the 400 medley relay to a runner-up finish in 4:08.65 alongside junior Mary Morris (St. Cloud, Minn.), first-year Josey Larson (Hastings, Minn.) and junior Jayda Alholm (Little Falls, Minn.).
St. Ben’s other victory came in the 200 freestyle relay, where Alholm, senior Megan Bartels (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), first-year Lydia Jostock (Delano, Minn.) and sophomore Ava Niksich (Hermantown, Minn.) combined for the win.
CSB loaded the top of the leaderboard in the 1000 freestyle, taking three of the top four places. Senior Morgan Stout (Des Moines, Iowa) led the group with a second-place time of 11:38.09, followed by first-year Izzy Green (Hastings, Minn.) in third at 11:53.46 and first-year Maddie Brynda (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) in fourth at 12:15.18.
Morris added a pair of runner-up finishes, taking second in the 200 freestyle in 2:01.28 and placing second in the 500 free in 5:31.69 in her first attempt at the event this season. She also finished fourth in the 200 IM in 2:20.52.
In the sprint breaststroke, first-year Bella Kern (Delano, Minn.) placed third in the 50 breaststroke in 33.57, while Larson earned fourth in the 100 butterfly in 1:03.45. First-year Madeline Tillmann (St. Michael, Minn.) led CSB in the 100 backstroke with a 1:07.74, edging teammate and first-year Maddie Modjeski (Winona, Minn.) at 1:07.80. Bartels added a fifth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.55), and sophomore Maddie Stutelberg (St. Bonafacius, Minn.) was fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:50.26).
On the diving boards, Emma Netland (Moorhead, Minn.) posted a fifth-place score of 168.90 in the one-meter event.
CSB returns to action Dec. 4–6 at the Rochester Invite at the Rochester Rec Center.
Nestled in the heart of beautiful St. Joseph, Minnesota, the College of Saint Benedict (CSB) Swimming program has proudly celebrated over 50 years of competitive excellence. The Bennies have built a tradition rooted in Courage, Strength, and Boldness (CSB) —values that guide them in the pool, the classroom, and throughout our community. What sets CSB Swimming apart is its unique collaboration with Saint John’s University: Bennie swimmers train together on the CSB campus, yet compete alongside the Johnnies, creating a dynamic and supportive environment that’s both competitive and community-driven. Throughout its history, CSB Swimming has produced 12 NCAA Division III All-Americans, a testament to the team’s relentless pursuit of excellence. Equally impressive is the Bennies’ academic success—achieving 18 consecutive years as a CSCAA Scholar All-America Team. This dual commitment to athletics and academics reflects the high-achieving nature of the student-athletes who wear the Bennie cap. With a strong legacy and an even stronger future, Bennies continue to inspire, lead, and push the limits.