GRINNELL, Iowa -- The St. Catherine University completed their first day of competition in 2026 at the Grinnell Invite on Friday. The Wildcats scored 69 points through 20 events highlighted by a top-five finish from senior Olivia Weil. 

Weil led the way in the 200 IM A final, finishing 5th at 2:17.98 to anchors St. Kate's best individual finish of the finals session. The Wildcats also had three others in the championship final with senior Natalie Chandler in 17th at 2:24.91, junior Jordyn Grotbo in 19th at 2:26.22 and senior Ella Hochstetler in at 2:28.36, good for 20th. 

In the relays, St. Kate's A opened the night with a strong 7th place finish in the 200 free relay behind Chandler, Hochstetler, Grotbo, and Weil. The B relay team finished 23rd with a time of 1:53.96 and the C team came in 27th at 1:59.01. 

Karina Chattopadhyay and Nicolette Harvey both competed in the 500 free C final taking 23rd (5:45.28) and 27th (5:49.17), respectively. Chandler added another finals swim in the 100 back C final placing 23rd with a time of 1:05.89. 

St. Kate's stacked entries in the 200 breast C final with Harvey leading in 22nd at 2:48.14 followed by Maka Chiowereo in 25th at 2:50.17, Richanta Pollard in 27th and Grotbo in 30th. In the 100 free C final, Hochstetler finished 28th with a time of 58.26. 

Chattopadhyay posted a 13th place finish in the 200 fly B finals with a time of 2:28.59 followed by Weil taking 16th at 2:34.48 and Isabel Harden in the C final placing 25th. 

The Wildcats ended the night with three teams in the 400 medley relay led by the A team in 12th at 4:21.89. The B relay team placed 24th at 4:45.49 and the C relay team was just behind in 25th at 4:55.80. 

Day two of the Grinnell Invite starts Saturday morning with preliminary trials at 9 am followed by finals scheduled for 5 pm.