Meet of the Week Preview: St. Olaf at Gustavus Adolphus

By Jason Marsteller

PHOENIX, Arizona, November 7. FRIDAY, SwimmingWorldMagazine.com features a Division III Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match-up as St. Olaf visits Gustavus Adolphus in a Meet of the Week.

Here is a quick preview of the match-up:

Date and Time: Friday, November 9, 2007 at 6 p.m.
Location: Saint Peter, Minnesota
Facility: Lund Center

St. Olaf's Last Time Out:
The St. Olaf men wound up with six titles at the Northfield Colleges Quad Classic, including a four-title grab by Nelson Westby on Nov. 3. Westby captured individual crowns in the 50 free (21.46), 100 back (53.58) and 200 breast (2:07.10), while Danny O'Keefe won the 200 free (1:50.67) and Chris Bateman touched first in the 500 free (4:47.53). Meanwhile, Westby helped the 200 medley relay team of Adam Meyer, David Manley, Westby and Jake Koch win in 1:37.20.

The women did not win a title, but Jamie Fredeen provided their top finished with second-place efforts in the 200 free (2:02.13) and 500 free (5:27.35).

Looking forward with St. Olaf head coach Dave Hauck:
We are excited to be chosen as the Meet of the Week. This is always the fastest meet of the season before the championships in February. Both teams seem to rise up with some great performances at this early time of the season. I doubt that either team or coaching staff will have decided what the outcome will be, but we do know that it will be 'really' exciting.

The Ole men will be led by junior All Americans Nelson Westby, last year's NCAA champion in the 200 IM and finalist in both the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke, Jake Koch in the sprint freestyles, and Adam Meyer in the backstrokes.

The Ole women have a returning All American in sophomore diver Allysa Germeroth. Senior Christina Roberts a middle distance freestyler and first year Allison Beardsley, IM and backstroker will lead the women on the swimming side.

Gustavus Adophus' Last Time Out:
The Gustavus men fell in their 2007-08 dual meet opener with a 127.5-111.5 loss to Minnesota State University, Mankato, while the Gustavus women also lost their dual opener to MSU, Mankato 176-65. The meet was held on the MSU, Mankato campus Saturday afternoon.

For the men, Whitaker Davis was the top Gustie finisher throughout the day as he won the 200 freestyle (1:47.96) and the 500 freestyle (4:48.36). Ben Hanson finished first in the 1000 freestyle 20 seconds ahead of the next competitor with a time of 10:09.59. The Gustavus 200 freestyle relay team of Jonah Winter, Tyler Wakefield, Dave Pearson and Whitaker Davis took first-place honors in 1:29.29. Other first-place finishers for the Gusties included Matt Stewart in the 100 butterfly (52.43) and Clement Auyeung in the 50 freestyle (22.21).

For the women, the lone bright spot in the day was Carrie Gundersen. She was the only female Gustie swimmer to claim first-place in an event at the meet. Gundersen won the 1000 freestyle in 11:03.51.

Looking forward with Gustavus Adolphus head coach Jon Carlson:
The St. Olaf/Gustavus dual has produced some of the most exciting moments I have ever experienced as a coach in both wins and losses. I am looking forward to another great battle with both teams rising to the occasion. Last year, the St. Olaf men won 172-128 and the St. Olaf women won 159-141 in head-to-head competition. Look for the face-off between Gustavus' Matt Stewart and St. Olaf's Nelson Westby as two of the premier swimmers in Division III can swim in nearly event.

Top 2007-08 Times Comparison:
Men:
50 Free
SO: 21.46, Nelson Westby
GA: 22.21, Clement Auyeung
100 Free
SO: 49.63, Kyle Biesecker
GA: 49.01, Ben Hanson
200 Free
SO: 1:50.67, Danny O'Keefe
GA: 1:47.96, Whitaker Davis
500 Free
SO: 4:47.53, Chris Bateman
GA: 4:48.36, Whitaker Davis
1000 Free
SO: N/A
GA: 10:09.59, Ben Hanson
1650 Free
SO: 17:06.22, Chris Bateman
GA: N/A
100 Back
SO: 53.58, Nelson Westby
GA: 56.46, Paul Kirihara
200 Back
SO: 2:07.39, Tom Kirhara
GA: N/A
100 Breast
SO: 1:03.53, Jacob Reinhart
GA: 1:05.59, Ross Elenkiwich
200 Breast
SO: 2:07.10, Nelson Westby
GA: N/A
100 Fly
SO: 55.36, Erik Witzel
GA: 52.43, Matt Stewart
200 Fly
SO: 2:11.70, Luke Money
GA: N/A
200 IM
SO: N/A
GA: 1:58.72, Matt Stewart
400 IM
SO: 4:28.03, Eric Tvedt
GA: N/A
200 Free Relay
SO: N/A
GA: 1:29.29
400 Free Relay
SO: N/A
GA: N/A
800 Free Relay
SO: N/A
GA: N/A
200 Medley Relay
SO: 1:37.20
GA: 1:39.95
400 Medley Relay
SO: N/A
GA: N/A
1M Diving
SO: N/A
GA: 196.70, Mark Larson
3M Diving
SO: N/A
GA: 113.85, Bill Klein

Women:
50 Free
SO: 25.89, Amanda Rorem
GA: 26.48, Emma Espel
100 Free
SO: 56.98, Christina Roberts
GA: 57.44, Carrie Gunderson
200 Free
SO: 2:02.13, Jamie Fredeen
GA: 2:06.12, Joanna Berry
500 Free
SO: 5:27.35, Jamie Fredeen
GA: 5:28.68, Larkin Davis
1000 Free
SO: N/A
GA: 11:03.51, Carrie Gunderson
1650 Free
SO: 18:57.58, Christine Bruno
GA: N/A
100 Back
SO: 1:03.86, Alli Beardsley
GA: 1:04.70, Christi O'Conner
200 Back
SO: 2:18.00, Annie Gatzlaff
GA: N/A
100 Breast
SO: 1:11.04, Kjersten Grinde
GA: 1:10.80, Anika Erickson
200 Breast
SO: 2:40.47, Kjersten Grinde
GA: N/A
100 Fly
SO: 1:05.34, Aleta Kolen
GA: 1:03.44, Emma Espel
200 Fly
SO: 2:20.44, Jen Marzolf
GA: N/A
200 IM
SO: 2:20.18, Jamie Fredeen
GA: 2:21.68, Sara Pfau
400 IM
SO: 5:05.72, Alli Beardsley
GA: N/A
200 Free Relay
SO: N/A
GA: 1:44.94
400 Free Relay
SO: N/A
GA: N/A
800 Free Relay
SO: N/A
GA: N/A
200 Medley Relay
SO: 1:54.82
GA: 1:56.19
400 Medley Relay
SO: N/A
GA: N/A
1M Diving
SO: N/A
GA: 180.60, Brittani Matzke
3M Diving
SO: N/A
GA: 186.50, Alyssa Henkel

* – denotes meter conversion

MOTW, St Olaf at Gustavus Adolphus Map

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