Meet Results
MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's swimming and diving team improved to 2-0 in duals with an impressive 182-117 win over the College of St. Benedict in action Saturday at the Alex Nemzek Pool in Moorhead, Minn.

“We came into this meet without our top backstroker, our top butterflyer and missing one of our three divers and I told the team we needed a number of people to really step up," MSUM head coach Todd Peters said.   "St. Ben's beat us by 10 last year and they are just as good this year.  I had no idea how well our team would respond.”    

The Dragons did respond throughout the competition.

 The meet was close through the first nine events as MSUM Moorhead and St. Ben's each won four individual events and the Dragons held a 92-77 edge because of their 200 Medley Relay win.  Moorhead busted loose at that point and went on to win the final seven events, including 1-2 finishes in the 500 free and the 100 fly and won the meet by a 65-point margin.

Junior Angelee Hale was the top performer for the Dragons as she easily won the 200 free (1:59.21) and 500 free (5:20.36) and had the fastest split on the 400 free relay (55.22).  Hale's times were just off her conference meet performances from last year.

 “It is just amazing how fast Angelee swam today," Peters said. "She swam a 1:59.10 and a 5:18.27 at conference last year so she was almost faster than her lifetime bests at a mid-season dual.  I told her she needed to step up and replace our missing swimmers and she went far beyond everyone's expectations.”

The Dragons' lone senior, Olivia de Gruchy, also had a tremendous day.  She dropped two seconds off her college best to win the 100 butterfly with a 1:02.08.

 “Olivia was swimming in the outside lane and the focus was on the close race in the middle of the pool," the coach said. "Suddenly everyone realized Olivia was winning the race.”    

de Gruchy also dropped 2 seconds off her 200 butterfly to finish second in that event. Freshman Shae Bodrero came from behind to win both the 200 backstroke and 200 IM to solidify the Dragon victory.

Junior Kelsey Jandro won both diving events and scored a lifetime best 241.60 in the one-meter event.

 “Kelsey Jandro and Shayna Dugger are finally recovering from early season shoulder injuries that kept them out of the pool entirely for 10 days.  They are diving better than I have ever seen them," Peters said. "Coach Nate Brisley is pushing them to become two of the best divers in the nation.  I am so excited for what they will accomplish this year.”

MSUM also got wins from sophomore Jenna Thompson in the 50 freestyle (24.86) and freshman Jackie Woods in the 200 breaststroke (2:35.17).