ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — Haley Zelen’s parents were both standout swimmers at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.
Her mother, Deanne (Siverson) Zelen, set several school records and finished in the top three in the MIAC in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke during all four of her seasons with the Bennies, including a conference title in the 200 as a sophomore in 1995-96.
Her father, Matt Zelen, was a 13-time All-MIAC and All-American swimmer for the Johnnies who won the NCAA Division III national title in the 50 freestyle as a senior in 1998-99 and still holds SJU school records in the 50 and 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly.
But Haley — a standout swimmer in her own right at Shakopee High School — didn’t consider CSB initially, choosing instead to compete at Division I Wisconsin the past two seasons.
It was there she was introduced to another family with multi-generational ties to CSB and SJU. Chris Morris was a senior with the Badgers last season and his younger sister Ella was a team manager. Their sister Mary is an All-MIAC junior standout for the Bennies.
And it was Mary to whom Christopher and Ella directed Haley when she was looking to transfer.
“It’s crazy how those connections work,” said Haley, who in just her first three months at CSB has already set five school records — in the 100 butterfly (54.72 seconds), 50 freestyle (23.07), 100 freestyle (50.79), 100 individual medley (59.76) and as part of the 200 medley relay (1:46.69).
“I knew both (Chris and Ella at Wisconsin) and they put me in touch with Mary, who talked to me a lot about what it was like here. She was so nice and welcoming. That helped get the ball rolling for me.”
Mary Morris, too, is a multi-generation Bennie. Her mother Mary Kay (Wenner) Morris swam for CSB in the late 1980s.
“I grew up around Saint Ben’s,” said Mary, a St. Cloud Cathedral High School graduate who finished second in both the 200 backstroke and 200 freestyle at the MIAC Championships last season, setting a school record in the former event.
“I even went to elementary school right next to the campus. My mom went there, but so did my grandma and a bunch of my cousins. I have uncles who went to Saint John’s. So a bunch of my life has been spent around Bennies and Johnnies. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go there right away,” she continued. “I went to Germany for a year after high school, then I wound up at St. Kate’s. But it didn’t feel like home to me so I decided to give Saint Ben’s a try. “I think my mom was pretty happy,” she added with a laugh. “She made sure to let me make my own decision. But I think she wanted a Bennie in the family.”
Such family connections are not unique to Haley or Mary. In all, 11 swimmers on this season’s CSB roster have at least one parent who attended CSB or SJU.
The other nine are:
“It’s really cool because we don’t all come from Minnesota either,” said Bartels, a graduate of Highlands Ranch (Colorado) High School. “I’m from Colorado. Lauren is from Nebraska. Isabella is from Texas. But I think it helped that our parents were familiar with the campus. Maybe it helps give them a little piece of mind when their daughters are this far from home. I know my mom always jokes when I call home that she knows exactly where I am on campus.”
Jostock and Kern’s fathers, meanwhile, were roommates during their time at SJU, and the two grew up as close friends in Delano.
Each has or had older siblings at CSB and SJU. Colby Kern was a standout swimmer for the Johnnies (and sister Emma is an All-American at the University of Texas). Carter Jostock ran cross country at SJU and is now the director of creative video for the Johnnie football team.
“We’ve known each other forever,” said Lydia of Kern, whose mother Melanie played volleyball at CSB. “We’d come up every year for a football game or other fun events on campus. And a lot of times we’d go with her family as well. So we both grew up around these schools. Our parents really loved these places.”
CSB head coach Mandy Wolvert said having so many shared Bennie and Johnnie ties has helped make this season’s group of parents an even more cohesive group.
“What I’ve noticed this year is our parents seem more engaged than ever before,” Wolvert said. “Some of the alum parents have started a group chat that’s really fun. You see them together in the stands at our meets. It’s been really cool to see the energy they bring.”
“Division I parents get together a lot at meets because they’re typically two-to-three-day events and you have to travel to get to them,” said Mary Kay Morris, comparing her experience as a Badger and Bennie parent. “So you tailgate and do a lot of things with one another. I think because so many of us here have Johnnie and Bennie ties, it’s helped us all get to know each other a little more. The camaraderie among all the parents this season has been really fun.”
“I think it’s important for the team to be able to look up in the stands and see their parents having fun,” she continued. “When parents get to know one another, they get to know the swimmers too. Which makes everybody cheer for everyone that much more.”
Some of those parents first got to know each other during their own time at CSB and SJU.
Matt Zelen and Eric Anderson, for example, were teammates on the Johnnie swim team at the same time that Deanne Zelen was swimming for the Bennies.
“I was able to get my dad to come to the alumni meet this season and he had a lot of fun,” said Isabella Anderson, whose family has resided in Austin, Texas since she was five years old.
“He’s gotten the chance to see people and places he hadn’t seen in forever,” she added. “When we talk now, it feels like he’s getting the chance to relive his college days a little bit.”
“Getting the chance to reconnect with (Eric) has been so much fun,” Matt Zelen added. “I didn’t realize his daughter would be on the team until we both showed up for new student orientation. He walked in and we both did a double take. “I was surprised at first when CSB came back into the mix as an option for Haley because she was doing pretty well at Wisconsin,” he added. “But we had a heart-to-heart about what she really wanted to do in life and it was clear she wanted to try something new. We explored other schools, but she just fell in love with Saint Ben’s. It’s been cool to see her just as excited to be on campus as Deanne and I were when we were there.”
Haley currently has the second-fastest 100 breaststroke time in CSB history (1:05.77). Deanne now ranks 10th on that same list.
“I hadn’t even looked at those top 10 boards for a while now,” said Deanne, whose other daughter, Ari, is now swimming at Wisconsin this season. “I was amazed I was still on there. But with some of the swimmers I see on this team, I think my days may be numbered.”
Haley said the generation-spanning community that exists at CSB and SJU is part of what made the schools so attractive to her.
“I just love that you have so many families that keep coming here,” she said. “I think it shows what tight-knight communities these places build. Everyone on the team this season has been so kind and welcoming to me. That’s just showed me this is where I belong.”
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.