ROCHESTER, Minn. – The St. Olaf College men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams returned from nearly a month off of competition by competing at the three-day Rochester Invitational Thursday through Saturday at Rochester Recreational Center Natatorium.
Highlighted by a first-place finish from sophomore Olivia Small in the 100-yard backstroke, the St. Olaf women placed fifth of 10 teams with 865 points. Senior Aiden Yung posted three top-eight finishes to lead the Ole men to seventh of eight teams with 495 points. The meet included teams from the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) ranks.
Small won the 100-yard backstroke by over 1.5 seconds with a time of 57.04 seconds, while also finishing as the runner-up in the 200-yard backstroke (2:05.95). The sophomore’s pair of top-two finishes were among 18 top-eight performances for the St. Olaf women at the meet.
Senior Paige Steenblock added three top-four performances for the Oles, finishing as high as second in the 400-yard individual medley (4:34.14). Steenblock was also third in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:25.08) and fourth in the 200-yard individual medley (2:11.36), with the breaststroke time ranking sixth on St. Olaf’s all-time list.
Junior Katie Homme logged three top-three individual swims of her own as well, including runner-up performances in the 200-yard freestyle (1:55.36) and 100-yard freestyle (51.63). Homme’s time of 51.63 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle ranks third on the Oles’ all-time list. The junior also was third in the 50-yard freestyle (23.87) and clocked in with the program’s joint second-fastest time in the prelims of the event (23.73).
St. Olaf also had five relays finish in the top eight, led by third-place performances in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:32.82) and 200-yard freestyle relay (1:37.10) from Homme, sophomore Sawyer Eastman, junior Alana Schmitzer, and junior Samantha Sylvester.
Sylvester, Hultgren, and Eastman also logged seventh-place individual performances in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:07.55), 200-yard butterfly (2:12.95), and 200-yard freestyle (1:57.45), respectively, with Sylvester’s time of 1:07.27 in the prelims of the 100-yard breaststroke ranking eighth all-time at St. Olaf.
In the diving events, senior Zibby Hanifl took seventh on the one-meter board (345.95), while first year Alayna McCormick took eighth on the three-meter board (364.35).
On the men’s side, Yung qualified for the Championship Final in the 200-yard breaststroke (5th, 2:05.93), 400-yard individual medley (6th, 4:15.71), and 200-yard individual medley (7th, 1:57.22), with his time in the 200-yard breaststroke ranking fifth on St. Olaf’s all-time performers’ list.
St. Olaf’s next meet will be a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) dual meet at Macalester College at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17.
St. Olaf College, home to the Oles, is a small private liberal arts college located in beautiful Northfield, Minnesota. The St. Olaf Swim and Dive team, led by Head Coach Bob Hauck, competes DIII in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). When it comes to recruiting, Hauck prioritizes attitude, work ethic, and accountability, seeking athletes who are goal-oriented and team-focused. “Our program’s culture is centered on family,” Hauck says. “It’s a welcoming, supportive environment that’s both encouraging and challenging.” This close-knit team culture, along with a rich history and supportive coaching staff, has helped to create a unique space where athletes not only compete at high levels but also form lifelong bonds. Hauck invites student-athletes who are excited for a rewarding college experience—where academics, swimming, and diving work in harmony. He looks for well-rounded individuals who are ready to contribute to St. Olaf’s long-standing tradition of excellence. “If you’re looking for a program with history, support, and the chance to develop into the best version of yourself, St. Olaf is the place to be,” he says.