MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The St. Olaf College men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams both moved up the team standings on day two of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Swimming & Diving Championships on Thursday at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center.
Buoyed by five top-eight finishers in the one-meter diving, the St. Olaf women rose to second in the nine-team standings with 242 points, trailing Gustavus Adolphus College by 10 points for the top spot. The Ole men leapfrogged Hamline University for fifth place in the six-team standings with 141 points, 26.5 points behind fourth-place Macalester College.
St. Olaf’s women’s divers racked up 70 points with a 3-4-5-6-7 finish on the one-meter board in what is believed to be the first time one school had five of the top-eight finishers in the event at the MIAC Championships. Sophomore Erica Johnson was the top Ole finisher in third (420.30) to earn her first All-MIAC accolade.
Senior Zibby Hanifl (4th, 400.60), first year Alayna McCormick (5th, 394.35), and sophomore Emma Haines (6th, 317.00) swept the Honorable Mention All-MIAC Sports, while sophomore Savannah Carr also scored in seventh (370.70).
Senior Paige Steenblock collected her fourth consecutive All-MIAC accolade in the 200-yard individual medley with a third-place finish (2:10.95) to lead three Ole scorers in the event. Junior Samantha Sylvester was seventh (2:14.43) for the top finish in the event of her career to date.
St. Olaf’s 400-yard medley relay of sophomore Olivia Small, Steenblock, sophomore McKenna Hultgren, and junior Katie Homme earned All-MIAC honors by placing third (3:54.39), while Homme also picked up an honorable-mention accolade by tying for fourth in the 50-yard freestyle (24.24). Sophomore McKelvey McDaniel qualified for the A Final in the 500-yard freestyle and took eighth (5:20.69), while first year Lena Minetto won the B Final to take ninth (5:15.50).
Senior Nick Starcevich gathered the lone top-three finish of the night for the St. Olaf men by taking third in the 50-yard freestyle (20.85) for his second consecutive All-MIAC result in the event. Junior Jack Homme won the B Final to take ninth (21.14), which was an improvement of over three-tenths of a second from his time in the prelims and would have been sixth in the A Final.
Homme, Starcevich, and seniors Beau Giddings and Aiden Yung posted an honorable-mention performance in the 400-yard medley relay by taking fourth (3:27.84). Yung added a third consecutive Honorable Mention All-MIAC individual showing in the 200-yard individual medley in fifth (1:56.75).
The meet will continue with a 10:30 a.m. prelims session and a 6:30 p.m. finals session on Friday in Minneapolis.
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.