BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Led by junior Haley Zelen (Shakopee, Minn.) and first-year Anna Schottler (Chanhassen, Minn.), the College of Saint Benedict swim and dive team delivered another statement performance on day two of the MIAC Championships, capturing two event titles and earning three All-MIAC honors while climbing to fifth place in the team standings with 173 points.
Zelen led a historic 1-2 finish in the 50-yard freestyle, marking the first time in program history the Bennies have claimed the top two spots in the event. With three swimmers placing in the top 10, CSB piled up 44 points in the sprint.
Zelen, who set the school record earlier this season at 23.07 seconds, recorded a winning time of 23.18, just .11 from her season-best. Schottler followed with a 23.81, the third-fastest mark in program history, to secure second place and All-MIAC honors. Zelen becomes just the second swimmer in school history to win the MIAC 50-free title, joining Courtney Remes, who posted a meet-record 24.48 and NCAA provisional mark in 1997-98.
Junior Mary Morris (St. Cloud, Minn.) added to the point total with a 10th-place finish in a season-best 24.55 after swimming 24.53 in the prelims.
Later in the evening, Saint Benedict secured its second title of the day — and third of the championships — in record-breaking fashion. The 400 medley relay team of Zelen, Morris, Schottler and senior Megan Bartels (Richlands Ranch, Colo.) shattered the school record with a time of 3:51.91, trimming six seconds off their previous season best and eclipsing the 2022 record of 3:56.57.
It marked the program’s first MIAC title in the 400 medley relay since 2000, when Katie Kuhlman, Heather Niemi, Courtney Remes and Gretchen Weber touched the wall in 4:05.68. The victory also gave the Bennies their second relay championship of this year’s meet.
In the 200 individual medley, first-year Bella Kern (Delano, Minn.) placed ninth with a career-best 2:13.44 — the ninth-fastest time in school history and just ahead of Brooke Johnson’s 2:13.50 from 2008. First-year Josey Larson (Hastings, Minn.) finished 16th in 2:19.09 after posting a 2:17.24 in the prelims.
Senior Morgan Stout (Des Moines, Iowa) contributed two team points in the 500 freestyle, finishing 15th in 5:21.32.
Depth in the 50 freestyle also was evident on Thursday. First-year Addie Marsolek (Lakeville, Minn.) swam a season-best 25.24 to place 19th. Lydia Jostock (Delano, Minn.) recorded a season-best 25.68 to take 24th, and sophomore Josie Thomas (St. Paul, Minn.) finished 25th in 26.27.
In additional 200 IM swims, Claire Canfield (Waconia, Minn.) posted a season-best 2:19.45. Jostock placed 21st in 2:20.52, Bartels finished 22nd in 2:20.94, and junior Jayda Alholm (Little Falls, Minn.) was 24th in 2:22.32.
On the one-meter diving board, junior Ella Kowalczyk (Minneapolis, Minn.) led the way with a 10th-place score of 325 points. Sophomore Emma Netland (Moorhead, Minn.) followed in 14th with 275.85 points, and sophomore Abby Stevens (St. Cloud, Minn.) placed 16th at 261.40.
Competition resumes Friday with the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle relay on the schedule as the Bennies continue their pursuit of more podium finishes — and more history.
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.