MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The St. Olaf College women’s swimming and diving team completed its first runner-up finish in 14 years and the men finished fifth as the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Swimming & Diving Championships concluded on Saturday at Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center.
Senior William Wallace recorded St. Olaf’s lone event victory on the final day of the meet by winning the 100-yard freestyle, while sophomores Olivia Small and McKenna Hultgren posted runner-up finishes in the 200-yard backstroke and 200-yard butterfly, respectively. The St. Olaf women finished second in the nine-team field with 631.50 points, while the men were fifth with 426 points.
Wallace became the first Ole to win the men’s 100-yard freestyle since 2014 and the first event champion for St. Olaf since 2020 by winning the 100-yard freestyle in 45.26 seconds. The senior’s time was nearly one second ahead of the second-place finisher as Wallace collected his second All-MIAC accolade in the event after finishing as the runner-up in 2024.
Senior Aiden Yung added a runner-up finish in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:05.80) for his first all-conference accolade in the event after finishing fourth a year ago. Senior Nick Starcevich and sophomore Travis Elling recorded sixth-place finishes in the 100-yard freestyle (47.01) and 1,650-yard freestyle (17:08.58), respectively, to earn Honorable Mention All-MIAC honors.
Small finished second in the 200-yard backstroke (2:04.71) to land All-MIAC honors for the second season in a row after winning the event as a first year, while Hultgren was second in the 200-yard butterfly (2:09.65) to move up from third last year. First year Lena Minetto joined Small in the top five in the 200-yard backstroke in fifth (2:12.19) to land in the honorable-mention spots.
St. Olaf swept the three Honorable Mention All-MIAC places in the women’s three-meter diving to add 42 points to its team score. Senior Zibby Hanifl was fourth (411.60), sophomore Savannah Carr was fifth (392.15), and first year Alayna McCormick with sixth (390.00), with Hanifl picking up honorable-mention honors for the second consecutive season.
Junior Alana Schmitzer, sophomore Sawyer Eastman, junior Samantha Sylvester, and junior Katie Homme claimed the honorable-mention spot in the 400-yard freestyle relay by taking fourth (3:33.90), while sophomore McKelvey McDaniel and senior Paige Steenblock were fifth in the 1,650-yard freestyle (18:12.61) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:26.51), respectively.
Five St. Olaf women’s divers will head to Kalamazoo, Mich. for the NCAA Division III Region 1 Diving Championships on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 27-28.
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.