<rleton Men’s swimming and diving programs competed in the two-day Minnesota Challenge meet last weekend at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. The last regular meet of the season, the Minnesota Challenge marked the end for many on the men’s squad. Tapered and rested, these athletes posted season best if not lifetime best times in all of their individual entries, while the Knights as a whole finished the meet with an amazing 60 season best times out of 68 individual swims.
Among the Knights who finished their season last weekend, freshman Christian Edwards finished with a 23.79 in his 50-yard freestyle, while sophomore Adam Miller beat his personal best time in the 200-yard freestyle with a 1:55.41. Sophomore Ben Strasser also had an impressive meet, swimming both the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events in a 57.08 and 2:09.13, respectively. “Since the beginning of the year I wanted to get under 2:10 in the 200 fly,” Strasser revealed after the meet. “Having the whole team cheer me on really made the difference; it was one of those really satisfying races where I could barely get out of the pool when it was over.”
The Minnesota Challenge was also the last career swim meet of seniors Hugh Gallagher and Mark Olson. “It was a great feeling to finish my swimming career at such an amazing pool, with my team behind me and supporting me the whole way,” said Olson, who set a lifetime best in the 100-yard butterfly with a 58.5. Not to be outdone, Gallagher also posted season bests, in both the 100-yard breast with a 1:12.60, and the 100-yard freestyle with a 58.57.
Among those not tapered for the meet, sophomore Erik Klontz set a new record for the fastest 50-yard free ever posted by a Carleton Knight with a 20.55. Meanwhile, Jesse Gourrevitch electrified the stands with his impressive 200-yard breast performance, in which he nearly split a season best for the 100-yard breast. In the 500-yard freestyle, sophomore Mamoru Kanazawa and freshman Benito Ramirez duked it out side by side, resulting in an epic 4:47.78 tie between the two. For his efforts in the 100-, 200-, and 500-yard freestyle races, Mamoru was recognized as MIAC swimmer of the week.
Benito Ramirez, Brian Kilgour, Andrew Mering, and Mamoru Kanazawa won the 800-yard freestyle relay, beating out conference rivals Gustavus and St. Olaf, as well as UW-Stevens Point and South Dakota State, with an impressive time of 7:04:14.
At the Northfield Diving Invite this Tuesday, senior Jabir Yusof concluded his season in style as fans from the swim team and the Carleton community filled the stands. Sophomore Chris Frills qualified for the 1-meter competetion at the MIAC Championships, while Senior Eric Brenner scored yet another NCAA National qualifying performance.
As the season winds down, the Carleton Men’s swimming and diving program eagerly prepares to light it up one last time for the 3-day MIAC Championship swim meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center that starts next Thursday (2/17).
Ben Bedore is a member of the men’s swim team.
