ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — Junior Haley Zelen (Shakopee, Minn.) of the College of Saint Benedict swimming and diving team has been named The House / St. Cloud Orthopedics CSB Athlete of the Week following a record-shattering performance at the MIAC Swimming and Diving Championships.
Zelen (Shakopee, Minn.) earned All-MIAC honors in seven events and made program history by becoming the first Bennie ever named MIAC Swimmer of the Year. She captured three individual conference titles — including one in record-breaking fashion — and closed her standout meet with seven All-MIAC distinctions. During the season, she was also a six-time MIAC Athlete of the Week selection.
Her championship run opened with a victory in the 50 freestyle, where she touched in 23.18 to become just the second Bennie in program history to win the event. She followed with a first-place finish in the 100 freestyle, clocking an NCAA invite time of 50.99 — the first conference title in that event in CSB history.
Zelen secured her third individual crown in the 100 butterfly, posting a school, MIAC and meet record time of 54.10. The mark currently ranks second in NCAA Division III this season.
She also swam on four record-setting relay teams, helping the 200 free relay (1:35.76 – school record), 200 medley relay (1:44.45 – school record), and 400 medley relay (3:51.91 – school record) capture conference titles. Zelen added a runner-up finish as part of the 400 free relay (3:31.36 – school record), capping one of the most decorated championship performances in program 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.