<ozen seniors on the Carleton College men’s swimming and diving team, participated in the final dual meet of their careers as the Knights traveled across town to face St. Olaf College on Senior Day for both squads. The Oles defended their home pool, winning the competition, 187-100.
“Competing against one of the top teams in the MIAC and in the country is no easy task, physically or mentally, but I was proud of the positive attitudes and outstanding efforts we witnessed throughout the entire meet,” said Carleton head coach Andy Clark. “There is no better meet for our teams to end their dual meet season than this one. St. Olaf is a program we deeply respect, both at the coaching and athlete levels, because they are not only fiercely competitive but are also great sports, always showing humility and gratitude toward our athletes.
“This meet was also special this year because it gave us the chance to recognize and thank our senior class for giving us four wonderful and amazing years of swimming and diving,” said Clark. “Each of our seniors has given so much to our program, and whether it was through their prowess on the boards or in the water, they gave us four exciting years, and they each have made a significant impact on our team.”
Senior Erik Klontz (Bethesda, Md./Bethesda-Chevy Chase) was the only Knight to win an event on this day, remaining unbeaten in the MIAC for the 50-yard freestyle. This time he reached the wall at 21.29. He followed this performance with a strong second-place result in the 100 free (47.50). In both races, first-years Stephen Grinich (Mcminnville, Ore./Mcminnville) and George McAneny (Santa Cruz, Calif./Santa Cruz) were on his heels in third and fourth.
Mamoru Kanazawa (Sr./Tokyo, Japan/St. Mary’s International School) contributed to second-place finishes in four events. He led off the 400-yard medley relay, nearly won the 200-yard freestyle (1:46.18), added runner-up result in the 500-yard freestyle (5:03.07), and anchored the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:25.73).
Chris Frills (Sr./Chicago, Ill./North Lawndale College Prep) was second in both diving competitions. Andy Hardt (Sr./Mount Kisco, N.Y./American School in London) notched season-best times in three races and was Carleton’s top finisher in the 400 IM and 200-yard backstroke.
Jaymes Awbrey (Sr./Farmington, Minn.) notched season-best times in the 100-yard backstroke and 500-yard freestyle, while Adam Miller (Sr./Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) did the same in the 50 free. Steve Moran (Sr./Columbia Heights, Minn.) added season-bests in the 100 back and 100 fly.
Today’s competition also marked the final dual meet for seniors Ben Bedore (Mequon, Wis./Homestead); Michael Domingues (Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong); Tom Holmes (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington); Ethan Sagin (Cumberland, Md.); and Ben Strasser (Avondale Estates, Ga./Paideia)
While much of the focus of today’s meet was on the seniors, Carleton had the chance to show off its first-years, who took second and third in seven events. Most notably, Jonathan Brodie (Fremont, Calif./Washington) took second in the 100 backstroke (56.74), closely followed by Knights in third, fourth and fifth places, while Wilson Josephson (Fy./Mount Hermon, Mass./Northfield-Mount Hermon) finished the 200 fly in second.
The Knights will begin the taper portion of their schedule when they next compete at the University of St. Thomas Conference Invitational on February 1-2. The MIAC Championships will be held two weeks later at the University of Minnesota Aquatics Center.