The St. Olaf swimming and diving teams opened their 2025 season on Saturday, Nov. 1 with a strong performance. The women’s team picked up wins over St. Catherine University and the College of St. Benedict. The men tied their meet against St. John’s University. Building on that momentum, the Oles went on to face Gustavus Adolphus College on Nov. 9, where the women earned their first victory over the Gusties in 13 years, and the men secured a 209-70 win.
Head Coach Bob Hauck ’87, now in his 37th year coaching at his alma mater, said the Oles’ season opener set a positive tone for the months ahead.
“I thought we just had a really great presence,” Hauck said in an interview with The Olaf Messenger. “That was the first thing that really captured me.”
Hauck noted that early-season practices have emphasized detail and explosiveness.
“To see that kind of play out in a real positive way [at the meet], especially for the athletes,” Hauck said. “They’re like, oh, yeah, I’m seeing the results of this.”
Although the men tied with St. John’s on Nov. 1, Hauck saw it as a promising start. With no divers on the men’s team, St. John’s gained points in the diving events. Still, the Oles outscored the Johnnies by 32 points in the swimming events.
“I thought that was our best meet for our men in the last few years, because, again, energy and then level of competitiveness that they had,” Hauck said.
Diver Evgenia Roth ’26 said that during the team’s match-up against St. Catherine and the College of St. Benedict, the team’s enthusiasm was palpable.
“There was a really good vibe in the room. Like I could feel the team was really hyped up,” Roth said in an interview with The Olaf Messenger. “It’s just like a very warm atmosphere, and it felt supportive,” she continued. “All the guys that I saw [did] really well, and I felt… really proud of everybody.”
McKenna Hultgren ’28 also noted the swim team’s atmosphere as key to its early success.
“We always want to support each other no matter what. …The team camaraderie was always super high after every race, giving people fist bumps, cheering at the end of lanes. It’s just a very supportive environment,” Hultgren said in an interview with The Olaf Messenger.
After taking a year off, Roth said her goals this season focus on growth and mentorship. “I love that we have two new freshmen this year,” Roth said. “It’s really fun, …teaching them about St. Olaf and about the team and watching them succeed and get better.”
Hultgren plans to focus on growth as well, focusing on her personal mindset.
“If something doesn’t go well, [I want to] try and move past it … try to give 110% even if I’m not feeling the strongest, or I’m a little weak,” Hultgren said.
Looking ahead, Hauck said the team will continue building on the early momentum before heading to the Rochester Invitational on Dec. 4 to 6.
