Swim and dive competes in MIAC championships

The CSB and SJU swim and dive teams competed at the MIAC Championships last week.

CSB finished fifth overall, with 19 marks falling in the top-10 in program history. There were several All-MIAC performances at the meet, including senior swimmer Molly Johanson in the 400 IM and junior swimmer Emi Wagner in the 50 freestyle. In addition to the 400-yard Individual Medley, Johanson also swam the 200 IM and the mile.

“I was really happy with everything that I swam because I either got a personal best or a season best. I also got on the podium for both of my IM events, which was something that made me incredibly happy,” Johanson said.

Wagner broke 24 seconds in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.98 seconds, which is a goal she has been trying to achieve for the last four years.

“I was so thrilled and proud of myself,” Wagner said. “I loved looking up at my parents in the stands and giving them a thumbs up because they’ve been to every meet, cheering and waiting to see me accomplish that goal.”

Wagner also finished sixth in the 100-yard freestyle and achieved a top-10 performance mark. Senior swimmer Fiona Rosko also had an All-MIAC performance in the 200-fly, finishing third and achieving the second-best performance in school history. Rosko earned the title of CSB Athlete of the Week for her efforts.

“I feel honored to have been selected as Athlete of the Week. It is very special to have been chosen coming out of the last championship of my collegiate career,” Rosko said.

In addition to Rosko in the 200 fly, junior swimmer Laura Jennings took eighth with a time that ranks ninth-best in program history. One of the highlights of the meet for the Bennies was the 400-freestyle relay, composed of first-year Mikayla Haskamp, first-year Rachel Schlueter, junior Lindsay Smutka and Wagner.

“One of my favorite moments was the 400 free relay, the last relay. We were only a few points ahead of Carleton, so we knew it would come down to this relay,” Jennings said.

The 400-freestyle relay earned fifth place to end the conference meet. SJU swim and dive also had a successful weekend at the MIAC Championships. They finished second in the conference with several top-10 performance marks. Sophomore swimmer Liam Noble won the conference in the 100-yard backstroke, with senior Joe Koller finishing closely behind him in second. Noble also finished second in the 100-yard freestyle. Sophomore swimmer Carter Larson broke the SJU record in the 200-yard freestyle, previously set by Logan Arnold in 2013. The Johnnies collected 77 points from the 1-meter dive at the conference meet.

“Men’s diving was a lot of fun. For the 1-meter competition, Johnnies held five of the top eight spots on the podium,” senior diver Jack Grabinski said.

Grabinski finished first in the 1-meter dive, securing the second conference championship of his career. His career-best mark of 503 points is third in program history. Sophomore diver Eli Grabinski followed with a second-place finish in the 1-meter dive, and senior diver Connor Reed finished third. Eli Grabinski followed with the 3-meter dive on the third day, winning his second consecutive MIAC title with a score of 476. Reed finished in second. Both Eli and Jack Grabinski qualified for the NCAA Diving Regional in Chicago this weekend. There are 67 divers from all around the Midwest competing in the NCAA Regional event. The Johnnies’ 400-freestyle relay, composed of first-year Carsten Reuter, sophomore Colby Kern, Noble and Larson, achieved second place with a time that was 0.07 seconds away from the school record. The CSB and SJU swimmers and divers thought they had a very successful weekend to end a great season.

“We have an amazing team and amazing coaches motivating us throughout the whole season. We ended this season strong, and I couldn’t be more proud of my team,” Wagner said.