<rleton women’s swimming and diving team had some tough competition this weekend, with back-to-back meets Friday and Saturday. Though the schedule was grueling, the Knights swam to victory in both competitions.
A close race was inevitable at the meet Friday night against Gustavus Adolphus College, as the two teams have alternated as MIAC champions for the past four years. In the first home meet of the season, Carleton’s women clinched ten individual victories, and won the top three places in two events.
In the 1-meter diving, Sydney Weydemeyer ‘11, Austen Chase ‘12, and Erin Heydinger ’11 locked out the Gustie diver, with Weydemeyer winning the 3-meter competition as well.
In the 100-yard fly, Grace Cormier ‘13, Maggie Alexander ‘12, and co-captain Louise Buckler ’11 swept the heat to come in 1-2-3.
The win against Gustavus was “a surprise,” said head coach Andy Clark. “A good surprise.”
Another exciting surprise came when co-captain Kale Zicafoose ’11 touched the wall in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 59.06 seconds, a new Thorpe Pool record.
Despite their exceptional performance, the Knights were unable to sit back and enjoy their Friday victory, as their next competition kicked off early the next morning. Travelling to Collegeville, the team faced off in a double dual meet against the College of Saint Benedict and Macalester College.
Despite fatigue, Carleton had many outstanding individual performances on Saturday. Molly Spence ’13 showed spectators the true meaning of endurance, as she continued her Friday victories by picking up another win in swimming’s longest event, the 1650-yard free.
Cormier also had a great swim, winning the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:18:86.
The true battle, however, was in the day’s relay competitions. Cormier also played a crucial role in the women’s 400-yard medley relay, along with Zicafoose, Sophie Pilhofer ‘13, and Erin McDuffie ‘13. Their victory was hard-fought, edging out the St. Ben’s team by less than half a second.
The meet came to a climactic head at the night’s final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay. Several points behind going into the race, the Knights proved they had one more fight left in them as Milana Socha ‘14, McDuffie, Pilhofer, and Zicafoose rallied and capped off the weekend with an explosive performance, securing a win for their team.
The Knights next face off against Saint Mary’s University at West Gym at 1 p.m. on Saturday the 22nd, where the senior class will be honored.
Kate Dorwart is a member of the women’s swimming and diving team.
