MINNEAPOLIS- In her freshman season, Mariann Kukielka broke the All-MIAC 100-fly record with a 57.07; Now a junior, she slashed that record Saturday with a speed of 56.63 at the University of Minnesota’s Aquatic Center.
“Honestly, I was surprised to look at the board and see that time,” Kukielka said. “The 100 fly is my speciality, and there’s always more in my heart stored away that I can pull out just for this race. I think it’s partly the pride I have that I’m capable of doing something for St. Thomas.”

The St. Thomas swimming and diving teams competed in the non-team scored Jean Freeman Invite this weekend. The meet included swimmers from seven MIAC schools, the University of Minnesota and South Dakota State.

After the initial heats Friday night and Saturday morning, coach Tom Hodgson said even though the team maintained an “intense” training regimen up until the meet, the Tommies still swam well.

“We’re still having most of the kids beat their best times … having some real highlight swims,” Hodgson said.

Hodgson said besides Kukielka posting the fastest time in the conference in the 100 fly—2/10 of a second off her MIAC all-time record—other swimmers also had personal bests.

“(Friday), Dane Washenberger had a tremendous 200 (individual medley),” Hodgson said. “About four seconds better than his lifetime best.”

Other top finishes by the Tommies included Michael Lanz’s fourth-place finish in the men’s 100 fly. The men’s 400 free relay took home fifth with Lanz, Ben Henrickson, Luke Schneeman and Griffin Voss. Elise Guenther finished sixth in the women’s 1,650 freestyle.

In the women’s 400 IM, Carly Johnson’s time put her in seventh place.

The University of Minnesota and South Dakota State took home firsts in 75 percent of the final races, but the higher level of competition didn’t bother Hodgson or affect the way he trains his teams for a meet.

“There’s a lot of competition ahead of us. I’m really proud of our kids being able to hold their own with some of these great Division I and II teams … especially with them being rested,” Hodgson said.

Kukielka was also expecting a higher level of competition, but last year’s All-American was caught off guard by one team in particular—the Tommies.

“We knew Gustavus was going to be rested and fast. We knew the (University of Minnesota) and South Dakota State University were going to have quick times,” Kukielka said. “I think the biggest surprise was us.”

She said overall, the weekend meet was tough mentally.

“We were facing a lot of really good competition … It’s also a long meet and two full days of swimming, which is taxing and tires you out both mentally and physically. We fought hard and posted a lot of good times,” Kukielka said.

Hodgson said he was proud of Kukielka’s performance.

“(Kukielka has) been working really hard, really deserving. She was in the weight room all summer, despite being being really busy on campus. She was just named to the president’s strategic planning committee,” Hodgson said. “Not to mention about five other things … she’s having a hell of a year.”

While other teams rested for this meet, Hodgson noted a swimming season is different than other traditional sports and that training for the end of the year is vital.

“Swimming is a funny sport … it has nothing to do with wins and losses over the year,” Hodgson said. “It comes down to one meet, it’s how many points you can score in the conference championship. We’re putting our eggs in the conference meet.”

Joey Anderson can be reached at Ande9008@stthomas.edu.