ST. PAUL, Minn. – The St. Catherine University swimming and diving team opened its 2025–26 campaign with a powerful all-around performance at the annual St. Kate's Pentathlon on Saturday, finishing third overall with 3,874 points behind Concordia–St. Paul and the College of St. Benedict. The Wildcats posted 18 career-best times along with 25 non-suited best times in the season opener. 

Senior Ella Hochstetler led the Wildcats with a third-place finish (1:02.57), pacing a deep St. Kate's field that placed six in the top 30. Olivia Weil followed in 12th (1:04.83), with Jordyn Grotbo (1:07.01), Anna Sewich (1:07.32), and Natalie Chandler (1:08.51) all within striking distance. Shea Bradley (1:08.78) and Nicolette Harvey (1:08.89) added to the scoring, while Richanta Pollard (1:12.28), Isabel Harden (1:13.52), Olivia Kauffman (1:14.24), Sierra Hermansen (1:14.30), Carys Walsh (1:16.90), Maka Chikowero (1:17.24), Clare Cook (1:18.67), and Elizabeth Gilman (1:19.44) rounded out a balanced event for the Wildcats.

Hochstetler again led the way, placing sixth (1:02.50). Grotbo (1:06.61) and Chandler (1:06.68) followed closely, while Bradley (1:08.13), Sewich (1:08.93), and Weil (1:09.32) all scored key points. Additional solid swims came from Hermansen (1:10.62), Chikowero (1:10.78), Pollard (1:11.22), Harvey (1:12.32), Hanne Graham Lawver (1:14.22), Kauffman (1:15.11), Cook (1:15.82), Walsh (1:16.85), Harden (1:17.09), and Gilman (1:17.13).

Senior Olivia Weil placed seventh (1:05.05) to lead St. Kate's, followed by Hochstetler (1:07.02) in 10th. Chandler (1:08.34), Bradley (1:08.40), Hermansen (1:09.09), and Grotbo (1:09.25) added strong mid-pack finishes. Harvey (1:09.64), Chikowero (1:11.20), Kauffman (1:11.31), Pollard (1:11.59), Walsh (1:13.01), Sewich (1:13.17), Graham Lawver (1:13.84), Gilman (1:15.12), Chattopadhyay (1:15.80), Harden (1:19.85), and Cook (1:17.73) rounded out the effort in one of the meet's most demanding races.

Weil continued her standout day with a runner-up finish (1:10.51). Hermansen (1:15.48), Kauffman (1:16.80), and Harvey (1:18.05) also placed inside the top 25. Bradley (1:18.53), Chandler (1:19.17), Chikowero (1:19.69), Pollard (1:20.31), Hochstetler (1:20.48), and Graham Lawver (1:21.86) contributed consistent times, while Gilman (1:22.71), Grotbo (1:22.95), Walsh (1:23.75), Chattopadhyay (1:27.89), Sewich (1:28.32), Cook (1:28.76), and Harden (1:32.12) rounded out the finishes.

The Wildcats capped the day with a series of top times, including four under the one-minute mark. Grotbo (58.34), Hochstetler (58.77), Weil (58.87), and first-year Mari Lachinski (59.41) highlighted the sprint group. Bradley (1:00.22) and Harvey (1:00.67) followed, with Chandler (1:02.43), Kauffman (1:02.79), Sewich (1:03.68), Hermansen (1:03.91), Walsh (1:04.44), Chattopadhyay (1:04.68), Chikowero (1:04.70), Pollard (1:06.19), Cook (1:06.19), Harden (1:07.65), Graham Lawver (1:07.87), and Gilman (1:09.33) rounding out the event.

St. Kate's returns to competition on Saturday, October 25 traveling to Northfield for the Carleton College Cows, Colleges, and Contentment Invite.