INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Junior Haley Zelen of the College of Saint Benedict swimming and diving team has qualified for the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships, the NCAA announced today.
Zelen earned berths in three events—the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly—and will compete March 18–21 at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, Ind. She is among 579 total participants (526 swimmers and 53 divers) set to compete at the national meet. Franklin College, the Indiana Sports Corporation and the IU Natatorium will serve as hosts of the competition.
The Shakopee native becomes the first CSB student-athlete in 24 years to qualify for the NCAA swimming championships. The last CSB swimmer to reach nationals was Katie Kuhlmann in 2002 (100 and 200 breaststroke). Zelen is also the first CSB swimmer since Kuhlmann in 2000 to qualify in three events, and she is the program’s first-ever MIAC Swimmer of the Year.
Zelen’s season has been historic across the board. She became CSB’s first student-athlete to earn All-MIAC honors in seven events, captured three individual conference titles—including one in record-breaking fashion at the MIAC Championships—and contributed to three winning relays plus a fourth-place second finish. All four relays set school records at the conference meet. She was also named MIAC Athlete of the Week six times during the season.
She qualified for nationals with school-record performances of 23.07 in the 50 freestyle (Rochester Invite), 50.79 in the 100 freestyle (Rochester Invite), and 54.10 in the 100 butterfly (MIAC Championships). Nationally, Zelen ranks second in Division III in the 100 butterfly, seventh in the 50 freestyle, and 20th in the 100 freestyle.
Zelen opens competition in the 50 freestyle on March 18, swims the 100 butterfly on March 19, and concludes with the 100 freestyle on Saturday, March 21. Each day features trials at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m. Events from the championships will be streamed live at NCAA.com.
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.