ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — After a regular season filled with record-breaking swims and standout performances, the College of Saint Benedict swim and dive team is set to take center stage at the 2026 MIAC Swim and Dive Championship, scheduled for Feb. 11–14 at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on the University of Minnesota campus.
The four-day championship begins Wednesday night with the finals of the women’s 200-yard medley relay and 800-yard freestyle relay, with finals starting at 7:30 p.m. Morning preliminary sessions will follow Thursday through Saturday, each beginning at 10:30 a.m., while championship finals on those days are set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s schedule features the mile events approximately 45 minutes after the morning session, with the fastest heat opening the evening finals.
Saint Benedict enters the championship, coming off another strong regular season and looking to continue its upward momentum within the MIAC. Last season, the Bennies placed sixth with 320 points, matching their finish from the previous year. In 2022–23, CSB climbed to fifth place, and the program has recorded 17 top four finishes all-time, highlighted by a conference championship in 1997–98. At last year’s meet, the Bennies posted seven All-MIAC honors.
Inside Look – How CSB Stands in MIAC
As CSB competes at the championships, they are ranked first in four individual or relay events and sit second in three others with 13 top-five rankings overall. Leading the charge for CSB is Haley Zelen (Shakopee, Minn.), who has authored one of the most impressive seasons in program history. Zelen has already set school records in the 50 freestyle (23.07), 100 freestyle (50.79), 100 butterfly (54.72), and 100 individual medley (59.76). She also ranks second all-time at CSB in the 100 breaststroke and is a member of the 400 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams that own the second-fastest times in school history. Zelen currently holds the MIAC’s fastest times in the 50 and 100 freestyle, 100 butterfly, and 100 breaststroke, and has recorded NCAA Division III “B” cuts in the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 butterfly. Nationally, she ranks fourth in Division III in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly and ninth in the 100 freestyle.
Depth across the lineup has been another strength for the Bennies. Mary Morris (St. Cloud, Minn.) enters the championship ranked second in the MIAC in the 200 backstroke, third in the 100 backstroke, and fourth in both the 200 individual medley and 200 freestyle. Senior Morgan Stout (Des Moines, Iowa) sits fourth in the 500 freestyle and seventh in the 1,650 freestyle, while first-year Anna Schottler (Chanhassen, Minn.) is ranked fifth in the 500 free. First-year Josey Larson (Hastings, Minn.) is also positioned for a strong showing, ranking fifth in the 200 butterfly.
Relay events could prove to be a key scoring area for CSB. The Bennies rank first in the MIAC in the 200 medley relay and sit among the top three in four of the five relay events, including second in both the 400 medley and 400 freestyle relays and third in the 200 freestyle relay.
CSB Rankings – By Event
50 Free – Haley Zelen, 1st, 23.07 (D3 B cut). The mark is .67, better than second place. First-year Anna Schottler is fifth with a 24.57 clocking.
100 Free – Haley Zelen, 1st, 50.79 (D3 B cut)’ Schottler, 10th, 54.02.
200 Free – Mary Morris, 4th, 1:57.58; Morgan Stout, 13th, 2:00.07
500 Free – Morgan Stout, 4th, 5:18.04
1650 Free – Morgan Stout, 7th, 18:36.89; Maddie Brynda, 19th, 19:22.20
100 Back – Mary Morris, 3rd, 59.22; Haley Zelen, 10th, 1:00.63; Lauren Sitzman, 13th, 1:01.26
200 Back – Mary Morris, 2nd, 2:06.95; Lauren Sitzman, 9th, 2:13.50
100 Breast – Haley Zelen, 1st, 1:05.16; Megan Bartels, 8th, 1:09.09; Bella Kern, 12th, 1:10.08
200 Breast – Bella Kern, 8th, 2:31.81; Megan Bartels, 10th, 2:32.24
50 Fly – Haley Zelen, 1st, 25.39; Madeline Tillman, 17th, 28.46
100 Fly – Haley Zelen, 1st, 54.72 (D3 B); Josey Larson, 14th, 1:01.16; MadelineTillman, 19th, 1:02.10
200 Fly – Josey Larson, 5th, 2:14.24; Izzy Green, 18th, 2:23.57
200 IM – Mary Morris, 4th, 2:14.15; Bella Kern, 18th, 2:18.53
400 IM – Josey Larson, 20th, 5:05.55
200 Free Relay – CSB, 3rd, 1:38.30 (Anna Schottler, Lydia Jostock, Mary Morris, Haley Zelen)
400 Free Relay – CSB, 2nd, 3:34.00 (Haley Zelen, Mary Morris, Anna Schottler, Jayda Alholm)
800 Free Relay – CSB, 6th, 8:10.53 (Jayda Alholm, Maddie Stutelberg, Lauren Sitzman, Morgan Stout)
200 Medley Relay – CSB, 1st, 1:46.69 (Mary Morris, Megan Bartels, Haley Zelen, Anna Schottler)
400 Medley Relay – CSB, 2nd, 3:57.80 (Mary Morris, Megan Bartels, Haley Zelen, Anna Schottler
1M – Diving – Ella Kowalczyk; Emma Netland; Abby Stevens
3M – Diving – Ella Kowalcyzk; Emma Netland, Abby Stevens
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.