°µÍø½ûÇø

On March 19, the final day of the 2022 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Swimming and Diving Championships in Indianapolis, Jordyn Wentzel ’22 became St. °µÍø½ûÇø's first-ever NCAA Division III National Champion. Winning the 200-yard breaststroke with a national record time, Wentzel led the Wildcats to finish 10th place overall, out of 40 teams from across the country.

"Breaking the national record has been a goal of mine for a very long time, and being able to accomplish it this year was incredible," Wentzel said. "Competing at NCAAs again, having five teammates — three of whom were at NCAAs in 2019 — with me, and then getting 10th as a team, was an unbelievable experience. I couldn’t have asked for a better season with them and I am looking forward to one more."

Wentzel's performance in the 200-yard breaststroke sets a new St. Kate's program, MIAC, Meet, and Division III record, and the first-ever national title for the Wildcats. Previously, alumna swimmer Suzanne Heidelberg Anderson ’83 was named an AIAW national champion in 1981 in the 200-yard individual medley, the year prior to St. Kate's joining the NCAA. 

"For Jordyn, this was really two years in the making, and I hope over the next couple of weeks she has the opportunity to reflect and understand what an impressive feat she achieved," said Justin Zook, head swimming and diving coach. "Jordyn’s accomplishment is a reflection of how far our entire program has come over the last six years, and without the continued progress of the entire team, this would have looked much different for all of us."

Overall, St. Kate's claimed 16 All-America honors over the week and seven All-America honorable mention nods, with first-year Emma Svendsenʉ۪25 and junior Annie Vossʉ۪23 earning their first-ever All-America recognition.