SAINT PETER, Minn. — The Gustavus swim team hosted the Gustie Challenge Friday and Saturday, inviting Saint Benedict, Saint John's, and UW-Eau Claire to Saint Peter for one final tune-up before conference championship season. The Gustie women took first in 15 of 18 events, while the men won 14 of 18. 

Marit Isaacson led the way for the Gustie women in the pool, winning three individual races and contributing to three relay wins. Isaacson won the 200 IM (2:15.05), 100 backstroke (1:01.48), and 200 backstroke in 2:12.84. Lucy Peterson added two more individual wins to the total, maintaining her dominance of the freestyle sprints, finishing the 50 free in 24.09 and the 100 free in 53.82. Six more Gusties added individual wins to their names, as well. Reese Sprow touched the wall first in the 400 IM in 4:54.68, while Nola Fisher took first in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:01.67. Other top finishes included Macey Whitlock in the 200 free (2:00.51), Lindsay Sundby in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.76), Hadley Wartner in the 200 breaststroke (2:33.08), and Mariel Castillo in the 200 butterfly (2:22.60).

The Gustie women won four of five relays at the event. The team of Leah Soukup, Peterson, Chelsy Johnson, and Hannah Ewer finished first in the 200 free relay in 1:40.01. Mikayla Witte, Isaacson, Sundby, and Peterson won the 200 medley (1:51.06), and Peterson, Wartner, Isaacson, and Stella Anderson Moye finished first in the 400 medley in 4:08.99. Fisher, Isaacson, Johnson, and Castillo wrapped up the Gustie relay wins, taking first in the 800 free in 8:27.19.

On the men's side, the Gusties picked up 14 wins in the pool, led by Peyton Richardson, who added three as well as three relay wins. Richardson finished first in the 200 IM (1:58.48), 100 fly (51.3), and 200 backstroke (1:59.24). Matt Strom, who also tallied three relay wins, picked up two individual first-place finishes, winning the 500 free in 4:41.58 and the 100 back in 53.59. Kieran Ripken added a win in the 50 free in 21.40, Logan Cyr touched the wall first in the 400 IM (4:22.97), and Nyden Hill finished first in the 100 breaststroke in 59.77. Brendan Collins added another Gustie win in the 200 free in 1:44.30, with Strom and Cyr not far behind him in that race. 

The Gustie men swept the relays, winning all five at the meet. Strom, Braden Ripken, brother Kieran, and Richardson started off with a win in the 200 free in 1:26.79. Richardson, Kieran Ripken, Strom, and Graham Muench won the 400 medley in 3:33.08, while Strom, Braden Ripken, Jonathan Cordano, and Jack Christoferson finished first in the 200 medley in 1:38.19. Muench, Aiden Shermak, Teddy Solensky, and Matt Lillejord took first in the 800 free relay 7:22.27, while Tyler Kauffman, Richardson, Muench, and Collins posted rounded out the competition with a 3:15.16 finish in the 400 free relay.

"It was a phenomenal weekend for our team," said Head Coach Jon Carlson. "There were so many inspiring swims up and down the lineup. I'm so proud of how our athletes performed. We always say 'Swim to inspire,' and the team definitely did that this weekend. This is a great last meet as we head into preparing for the MIAC Championship."

The 2024 MIAC Swimming & Diving Championships will officially get underway on Wednesday, February 14 with the first session beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the University of Minnesota's Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis. More information can be found at the MIAC Championship Home Page.