COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — Senior Day at the Warner Palaestra Pool featured record-breaking performances and a down-to-the-wire finish as the College of Saint Benedict swimming and diving team fell just short in a 154-146 dual loss to Carleton on Saturday afternoon at the Warner Paelestra Pool. In the dual, CSB had eight event wins and set three pool records.
honored on Senior Day.
Photo by Jordan Modjeski, CSB+SJU Athletics
Prior to the start of the meet, CSB honored seniors Megan Bartels (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Morgan Stout (Des Moines, Iowa), and Lauren Sitzman (Omaha, Neb.) for their dedication and leadership to the program.
Junior Haley Zelen (Shakopee, Minn.) delivered a standout performance to lead the Bennies, winning two individual events in pool-record fashion and swimming on two victorious relays, including another pool record. Zelen set the tone early by breaking the pool record in the 100 freestyle with a time of 51.82. She followed with another pool mark in the 100 breaststroke, touching the wall in 1:05.16, a personal best that came just shy of Katie Kuhlman’s school record of 1:04.58 set in 2000.
Zelen was also part of the record-setting 200 medley relay that captured first place in 1:48.35, a time that ranks fifth all-time in CSB history. She teamed up with junior Mary Morris (St. Cloud, Minn.), Bartels, and first-year Anna Schottler (Chanhassen, Minn.) for the winning swim.
CSB added another relay victory in the 200 freestyle relay, as Zelen, Morris, first-year Lydia Jostock (Delano, Minn.), and Schottler combined for a winning time of 1:39.71.
Schottler also made her mark individually, winning the 50 freestyle in 25.16 and placing second in the 100 butterfly with a personal-best time of 1:02.21.
The Bennies claimed three of the top four spots in the 100 butterfly, with first-year Josey Larson (Hastings, Minn.) finishing third in 1:03.42 and first-year Madeline Tillmann (St. Michael, Minn.) placing fourth in 1:04.51. Larson went on to win the 200 butterfly in 2:18.05, while first-year Isabella Anderson (Austin, Texas) finished fourth in 2:28.35.
Morris turned in a strong performance of her own, capturing two individual victories and swimming on two winning relays. She won the 200 freestyle in 1:59.71, with junior Jayda Alholm (Little Falls, Minn.) placing fourth in 2:05.06, and later claimed the 200 backstroke title in 2:13.24.
In the breaststroke events, Bartels and first-year Bella Kern (Delano, Minn.) joined Zelen near the top of the standings. Bartels placed third in the 100 breaststroke with a personal-best time of 1:09.29, while Kern finished fifth in 1:11.95. In the 200 breaststroke, Bartels earned a second-place finish in 2:32.24 and Kern followed in fourth at 2:37.24.
Distance freestyle also produced solid results for CSB. First-year Maddie Brynda (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) placed second in the 500 freestyle in 5:40.20, while Sitzman finished fifth in 5:57.75. Brynda added another runner-up finish in the 1,650 freestyle, clocking 19:30.77.
In the backstroke events, Sitzman and sophomore Josie Thomas (St. Paul, Minn.) tied for third in the 100 backstroke, both posting times of 1:04.53, with junior Claire Canfield (Waconia, Minn.) placing fifth in 1:04.70. In the 200 individual medley, the Bennies claimed four of the top six spots, led by Jostock in third at 2:21.06 and Kern in fourth at 2:22.22.
On the diving boards, CSB recorded a series of season-best scores. Sophomore Ella Kowalczyk (Minneapolis, Minn.) led the way with a season-best 175.55 to place second in the one-meter dive. First-year Miranda Meyer (Meire Grove, Minn.) finished third with a score of 161.00, followed by sophomore Emma Netland (Moorhead, Minn.) in fourth at 157.65 and sophomore Abby Stevens (St. Cloud, Minn.) in fifth at 154.95. On the three-meter board, Kowalczyk again placed second with a score of 203.40, while Stevens took third at 155.15, Meyer finished fourth at 151.20, and Netland placed fifth with 141.75.
Saint Benedict will have one final tune-up before postseason competition when they travel to Minneapolis, Minn., for the Minnesota First Chance Meet on Feb. 6–7, ahead of the MIAC Championships scheduled for Feb. 11–14.
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.