ST. PAUL, Minn. – First year Alayna McCormick broke the school record in the three-meter diving as the St. Olaf College men’s and women’s swimming diving teams split their Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) duals against Macalester College on Saturday at Leonard Center Pool.
McCormick shattered the previous three-meter record of 459.50 points set by Leanna Williams in 1999 with an 11-dive score of 464.45 to highlight the women’s team’s 163-136 victory over the Scots. The men’s team fell by a score of 145-124.
McCormick won both boards and qualified for regionals in both diving events to account for two of the women’s team’s nine first-place finishes on the day. McCormick won the three-meter event by nearly 40 points and the one-meter board by nearly 30 with a score of 437.55.
Junior Alana Schmitzer was first in the 50-yard freestyle (25.36) and 100-yard freestyle (55.80) while also swimming the anchor leg of the Oles’ first-place 200-yard medley relay (1:51.52). Sophomore Olivia Small, senior Paige Steenblock, and sophomore McKenna Hultgren joined Schmitzer on the relay and won at least one event individually.
Small swept the 100-yard backstroke (59.69) and 200-yard backstroke (2:10.31) titles, Steenblock won the 100-yard breaststroke (1:11.29), and Hultgren was the first to touch the wall in the 100-yard butterfly (1:01.75).
Led by three individual event wins from senior Aiden Yung, the St. Olaf men posted eight first-place performances at the meet. Yung was first in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.44), 200-yard breaststroke (2:13.67), and 400-yard individual medley (4:21.84).
Senior Nick Starcevich and junior Jack Homme both won an individual event and were part of St. Olaf’s first-place 200-yard freestyle relay (1:28.12) along with junior Luke Williams and senior William Wallace. Starcevich sprinted to a first-place result in the 50-yard freestyle (22.04), while Homme was first in the 100-yard butterfly (53.60).
Sophomore Daniel Cameron and senior Beau Giddings also won events, with Cameron doing so in the 1,000-yard freestyle (11:17.14) and Giddings in the 200-yard backstroke (2:05.06).
The Oles will host Luther College in a non-conference dual meet on Saturday, Jan. 24 at noon at Skoglund Center Natatorium.
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.