Simpson Swimming Finishes Seventh At Mutual of Omaha Invitational
Simpson College finished seventh (250) at the Mutual of Omaha Invitational Dec. 5-6 in Omaha, Neb. The host, Nebraska-Omaha (1,962) won the event. Simpson was the only NCAA Division III school entered in the meet.
Catherine Mayes (Fr., Muscatine, Iowa, Muscatine H.S.) was 10th ("B" final) in the 200 backstroke in a time of 2:33.28. Mayes later placed 15th in the 200 IM ("C" final, 2:34.66) and 16th in the 100 backstroke ("C" final, 1:13.11). Claudia Swanson (So., Fridley, Minn., Fridley H.S.) earned a spot in the "B" finals of the 400 IM and finished 11th (6:04.21).
Chelsey Croson (Sr. Newton, Iowa, Newton H.S.), Mackenzie Hinrichs (So., Altoona, Iowa, Southeast Polk H.S.), and Abby Weers (So., Anamosa, Iowa, Anamosa H.S.) competed in the "C" finals of the 100 breaststroke. Croson (1:22.59) was 14th, Hinrichs (1:27.20) was 15th, and Weers (1:28.51) was 16th overall in the event. Croson and Hinrichs raced in the "C" finals of the 200 breastroke. Croson was 14th (2:57.68) while Hinrichs finished 16th (3:08.06).
Stacy Sturlaugson (So., Crystal, Minn., Robbinsdale Cooper H.S.) placed eighth in the 1650 freestyle (23:46.17), 10th in the 1000 freestyle (14:08.19), and 15th (2:50.69, "C" final) in the 200 backstroke.
Janie Kobylinski (Fr., Waseca, Minn., Waseca H.S.) finished ninth in the 1000 freestyle (15:02.34). Alex Carlson (Fr., Great Bend, Kan., Great Bend H.S.) was 15th in the 100 butterfly ("C" final, 1:18.72) and 18th in the 500 freestyle ("C" final, 6:45.26). Amanda Fichter (So., Sidney, Iowa, Sidney H.S.) finished 16th in the 100 butterfly ("C" final, 1:26.54).
In relay competition, the 200 freestyle "A" team of Ali Robinson (Fr., Atlantic, Iowa, Atlantic H.S.), Croson, Mayes, and Kirsten Towne (Sr., Gowrie, Iowa, Prairie Valley H.S.) qualified for the finals and placed fourth in a time 1:55.36. The 200 "A" medley of Mayes, Croson, Carlson, and Towne made the finals and finished fifth (2:12.45).
The 400 medley "B" relay of Swanson, Weers, Fichter, and Lesha Simpson (Fr., Algona, Algona H.S.) qualified for the finals and finished fifth with a time of 5:02.66. The 400 freestyle "B" relay of Robinson, Carlson, Fichter, and Morgan Umsted (Fr., Urbandale, Iowa, Indianola H.S.) were sixth (4:36.65).
"Catherine Mayes and Chelsy Croson swam hard making the finals in every event that they swam in," said Simpson head coach Aaron Strain. "We came up against some tough competition, Omaha is a top 10 D-2 school. Colorado is the national club champions and Kearney is another tough D-2 school. Overall everyone performed well and I am pleased with our times."