The Gustavus Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving teams have both enjoyed a great amount of success in their first half of competition this season, which wrapped up last weekend when the Gusties traveled to Grinnell College in Iowa for the Pioneer Classic, where the Gustie men and women both took first place in a field of 11 teams.
“The meet at Grinnell was very fun. There were tons of outstanding swims, and the team was very supportive of each other the whole weekend,” First-year Nolan Larson said regarding the big meet at Grinnell. The team was very pleased with many aspects of the meet and the weekend as a whole.
“It was clear this weekend that people wanted to be inspiring with their swims. We had a lot of back to back swims with little time to cool down in between, and people did a great job at being positive and leaving it all in the pool despite being tired. Our on-deck atmosphere also attributed to our success. We were super bubbly and silly, and I think people started carrying that over into their races, and they just started to have fun while racing. People were thriving off of the energy that we were able to create on deck,” Senior Kate Reilly said. The success this season goes far beyond just this past weekend, however.
“It was clear this weekend that people wanted to be inspiring with their swims.” — Kate Reilly
“So far, we have had great success in the pool. Both teams are undefeated against conference teams, and both teams recently won the Grace Goblirsch Invitational and the Pioneer Invitational at Grinnell College. Many individuals are posting top-8 times in the conference. Along with this, both teams have posted the fastest relay times. All of this early success attributes to all of the hard work in the pool and the early morning weight sessions,” Junior Frankie Zobitz said. The team has had multiple MIAC Swimmers of the Week this season, including Larson, who is in his first year of swimming for Gustavus.
“I wasn’t really sure what to expect for collegiate swimming, but it has been awesome. I am very surprised thus far on how fast the season has already gone by. So far, this season swimming with Gustavus has been more than a privilege as the team has been so supportive and welcoming,” Larson said.
The team now has a bit of a break in competition until the calendar turns to 2018 next month. The Gustie swimmers and divers will welcome the new year in with warm weather during their annual team training trip. The team’s original training trip destination was Puerto Rico, but due to the severe hurricane season experienced there earlier this year, the team’s trip destination has been modified.
“So far, this season swimming with Gustavus has been more than a privelege as the team has been so supportive and welcoming.” — Nolan Larson
“We are traveling to Fort Meyers, Florida this year. We’ll be training at Florida Gulf Coast University’s facility, and we will have full access to their weight lifting facility, which will be awesome. We do have a trip every year and the coaches try to mix it up and offer somewhere new and unique every year. I think Fort Meyers will be an awesome venue for this year’s trip, and we are sure to get some great training in,” Reilly said. Upon returning to Minnesota in mid-January, the team’s sights will be set on what they like to call “championship season.”
“I am most excited for our championship season in February. Each year, we have the goal of winning the conference. This year, on both sides, I believe this could come true. The women have not won since 2015, and the men have not won since 2008. All of the hard work that started all the way back in September pays off. Seeing people swim lifetime bests and then seeing their reaction afterwards is priceless,” Zobitz said.
The Gusties continue on their quest to a conference championship and begin the latter portion of their season on Friday, January 12 when Carleton College, a strong conference opponent, comes to town.