CSM swimmers get 31 personal bests, 8 ‘B’ cuts, school record
FREMONT, Neb. – College of Saint Mary Swim Coach Liz Germonprez easily put the three days into perspective.
"It was maybe the best midseason meet I've ever been a part of,'' she said.
The Warrior Invitational hosted by Midland University took place in six sessions over three days – Thursday, Friday and Saturday – and the Flames' results were eye-popping: Thirty-one personal bests. Eight 'B' cuts towards national qualifying. And one school record.
"The team was beyond supportive,'' Germonprez said. "They cheered and swam with a lot of love and heart.''
CSM finished fifth among the nine teams entered with 437.5 points, trailing only Western Colorado University (1,548.5), Saint Ambrose University (752), University of Nebraska at Kearney (646) and University of Jamestown (464.5). Germonprez noted that she didn't emphasize scoring points, but rather allowing her athletes to dial in on specific events.
Sophomore Kylee Brown turned in four top-seven individual finishes in the meet. She placed second in the 500 freestyle (5:12.06), third in the 200 freestyle (1:56.01), fifth in the 100 freestyle (54.04) and seventh in the 1,650 freestyle (18:55.35). All four are national 'B' cuts.
Senior Mia Gauvin placed ninth in the 200 IM (2:15.80), 10th in the 100 freestyle (55.76) and 10th in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.35). All three are national 'B' cuts. Gauvin also made a fourth 'B' standard by leading off the 400 medley relay with a time of 1:02.06 in her 100 backstroke leg.
Among other top 10 finishers, freshman Chloe Hale placed seventh in the 200 backstroke (2:15.86) and ninth in the 400 IM (5:09.96). Junior Jaidyn Vanschoiack finished ninth in both the 100 backstroke (1:03.28) and 200 backstroke (2:18.84). Sophomore Juliet Balman placed 10th in the 200 butterfly (2:50.01).
The Flames also had four top-six finishes in relays. They were third in the 800 freestyle relay with Brown, Gauvin, Addison Miller and Hannah Steinmetz (8:14.70), fifth in the 400 freestyle relay with Gauvin, Isabella Promes, Kylee Jo Farson and Brown (3:46.12), sixth in the 200 medley relay with Vanschoiack, Gauvin, Naomi Huttenga and Brown (1:54.36) and sixth in the 400 medley relay with Gauvin, Brown, Balman and Promes (4:18.92).
The CSM coach said freshman Promes had "a breakout meet,'' with a number of personal bests, and added the same was true for Huttenga, a sophomore.
"Coach Maddy Craig and I feel absolutely privileged to coach this team,'' Germonprez said. "It's hard to identify any one swimmer who had a great meet this week, because they were all truly swimming lights out.''
Other CSM finishers in individual event finals:
500 freestyle: 13, Miller 5:40.44; 19, Steinmetz 5:54.53.
200 IM: 18, Hale 2:22.41; 27, Huttenga 2:28.30; 29, Emma B'Hymer 2:31.42; 30, Balman 2:35.35.
50 freestyle: 15, Promes 25.71; 18, Vanschoiack 26.22; 30, Farson 27.61.
100 butterfly: 27, Balman 1:09.38; 29, B'Hymer 1:13.22.
200 freestyle: 20, Miller 2:06.72; 29, Steinmetz 2:10.47.
100 breaststroke: 14, Huttenga 1:13.16; 19, Nielsen 1:15.31; 22, B'Hymer 1:17.00.
100 backstroke: 14, Hale 1:05.59; 15, Promes 1:05.87; 24, Farson 1:11.22.
200 backstroke: 13, Steinmetz 2:23.43.
100 freestyle: 15, Promes 56.70.
200 breaststroke: 17, Huttenga 2:43.63; 21, B'Hymer 2:50.74.
1,650 freestyle: 12, Miller 20:07.09; 17, Steinmetz 20:45.98.
After the holiday break, the Flames return to action Jan. 17 at the Sterling College Triangular in Hutchinson, Kan.