University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, October 4
St. Paul, Minn.
2:30 p.m. CT
vs
Green Bay
Tommies swim and dive programs picked to finish fifth in preseason poll
10/3/2024 11:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
Highest preseason finish for St. Thomas since joining the Summit League
ST. PAUL, MINN. – It is officially time to dive in to the 2024-25 University of St. Thomas swim and dive season. With the Tommies season opener just 24 hours away, the Summit League released the 2024-25 Preseason Men's and Women's Coaches Polls. Both St. Thomas were programs were picked to finish fifth in the Summit League, the Tommies highest finish in the polls since joining the conference in 2021.
St. Thomas has its sights on new heights in 2024-25, Matt Bos' first as head coach of the program. Both rosters are stacked with experience and youth, with captains Alex Foti (Waukesha, Wis. / Waukesha West), Garrett Maras (Sartell, Minn. / Sartell), Grace Forsberg (Rice Lake, Wis. / Rice Lake) and Grace Schroer (Gold River, Calif. / Casa Roble) returning for their fourth and final seasons with the Tommies. These four will help usher a new era of St. Thomas swimming and diving, which will feature a combined 23 first years, 17 sophomores, 15 junior and 11 seniors.
In addition to announcing the 2024-25 Preseason Coaches Poll, the Summit League also announced its 2024-25 Swimmers and Divers to watch for each program. On the men's side, the Tommies and League are expecting big things from Philip Jensen (Hastings, Minn. / Hastings) and Ben Linde (Andover, Minn. / Andover) who made headlines throughout the 2023-24 season. For the women, Elizabeth Bonneville (Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeview South) and Hattie Opdahl (Lindstrom, Minn. / Chisago Lakes) were selected as the preseason Swimmer and Diver to Watch after making waves at the Summit League Championships in 2023-24.
St. Thomas will officially open its 2024-25 campaign on Friday, October 4, when the teams host Green Bay in a dual meet. The contest will officially begin with diving at 2:30 p.m. at the Anderson Pool, with races to follow.
Meet the Tommies 2024-25 Swimmers and Divers to Watch:
Elizabeth Bonneville (Sr., Freestyle/IM; Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville South)
A freestyle, IM specialist from Lakeville, Minnesota, Bonneville was selected as the St. Thomas Swimmer to Watch for the first time in her career Thursday morning. A three-time qualifier for the Summit League Championships, Bonneville found plenty of success in the water in 2023-24. At the conference meet, the then junior led the 800 freestyle relay team to a seventh place finish in the event, clocking a time of 7:45.49 in finals. As an individual, Bonneville swam in the 200 and 400 IM and 1650 freestyle, qualifying for the "B" finals in the 400. She earned an 11th place finish in the race thanks to her season best time of 4:33.24, and also finished 16th in the 1650 with a time of 18:09.97.
Outside the pool, Bonneville earned a slew of honors from the Summit League. A biology major, Bonneville was named to both the Summit League All-Academic Team and Commissioner's List of Excellence at the conclusion of the 2023-24 academic year.
Philip Jensen (Jr., Backstroke/Butterfly; Hastings, Minn. / Hastings)
Jensen made headlines in 2023-24 and was named the Tommies Preseason Swimmer to Watch for the first time in his career as a result. For the second straight season, Jensen qualified for "A" finals in a handful of events at the Summit League Championships, including both the 100 and 200 backstroke. In the 100 back, the then sophomore broke one of the longest standing program records in prelims, surpassing Peter Mullee with a time of 48.34. He would go on to finish fourth in the event, just missing the podium with a time of 48.50. Jensen would finish sixth in the 200 back.
At the same meet, Jensen clocked the second fastest time in program history in the 100 butterfly at 48.52 and helped the 200 medley relay team finish seventh with a school record time of 1:28.99. Outside of the pool, Jensen earned Academic All-District honors from the College of Sport Communicators (CSC) and was named to the Summit League All-Academic Team.
Ben Linde (Jr., Diving; Andover, Minn. / Andover)
Consistency will be key for Linde in 2024-25, as he was picked as St. Thomas' Diver to Watch for the second consecutive season. As a sophomore, Linde qualified for the Summit League Championships on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards for the second straight season and earned several top-3 finishes along the way. He won five competitions through the 2023-24 season, four of which were off the 3-meter board, and recorded a season-best six-dive score of 253.50 on the 1-meter board against South Dakota in early October. At the Summit League Championships, Linde earned top-16 finishes on both boards, qualifying for consolation finals.
Academically, Linde earned several awards at the conclusion of 2023-24. He was named to the Summit League All-Academic Team and was the lone male diver named to the Commissioner's List of Excellence.
Hattie Opdahl (So., Diving; Lindstrom, Minn. / Chisago Lakes)
Opdahl made headlines as a first year in 2023-24, qualifying for the Summit League Championships on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. She was the lone Tommie diver of either gender to qualify for finals at the championship meet and did so on the 3-meter after a career performance. After qualifying for finals as one of the top-8 divers, Opdahl finished fourth in the event that's to a six dive score of 250.20. She also won both the 1-meter and 3-meter six dive competitions in a dual against St. Cloud State in early November and won the 1-meter competition in a dual against Augustana on October 7.
Like her teammates, Opdahl also earned academic honors in 2023-24, qualifying for the Summit League All-Academic Team thanks to her performance in the classroom.
St. Thomas has its sights on new heights in 2024-25, Matt Bos' first as head coach of the program. Both rosters are stacked with experience and youth, with captains Alex Foti (Waukesha, Wis. / Waukesha West), Garrett Maras (Sartell, Minn. / Sartell), Grace Forsberg (Rice Lake, Wis. / Rice Lake) and Grace Schroer (Gold River, Calif. / Casa Roble) returning for their fourth and final seasons with the Tommies. These four will help usher a new era of St. Thomas swimming and diving, which will feature a combined 23 first years, 17 sophomores, 15 junior and 11 seniors.
In addition to announcing the 2024-25 Preseason Coaches Poll, the Summit League also announced its 2024-25 Swimmers and Divers to watch for each program. On the men's side, the Tommies and League are expecting big things from Philip Jensen (Hastings, Minn. / Hastings) and Ben Linde (Andover, Minn. / Andover) who made headlines throughout the 2023-24 season. For the women, Elizabeth Bonneville (Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeview South) and Hattie Opdahl (Lindstrom, Minn. / Chisago Lakes) were selected as the preseason Swimmer and Diver to Watch after making waves at the Summit League Championships in 2023-24.
St. Thomas will officially open its 2024-25 campaign on Friday, October 4, when the teams host Green Bay in a dual meet. The contest will officially begin with diving at 2:30 p.m. at the Anderson Pool, with races to follow.
Meet the Tommies 2024-25 Swimmers and Divers to Watch:
Elizabeth Bonneville (Sr., Freestyle/IM; Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville South)
A freestyle, IM specialist from Lakeville, Minnesota, Bonneville was selected as the St. Thomas Swimmer to Watch for the first time in her career Thursday morning. A three-time qualifier for the Summit League Championships, Bonneville found plenty of success in the water in 2023-24. At the conference meet, the then junior led the 800 freestyle relay team to a seventh place finish in the event, clocking a time of 7:45.49 in finals. As an individual, Bonneville swam in the 200 and 400 IM and 1650 freestyle, qualifying for the "B" finals in the 400. She earned an 11th place finish in the race thanks to her season best time of 4:33.24, and also finished 16th in the 1650 with a time of 18:09.97.
Outside the pool, Bonneville earned a slew of honors from the Summit League. A biology major, Bonneville was named to both the Summit League All-Academic Team and Commissioner's List of Excellence at the conclusion of the 2023-24 academic year.
Philip Jensen (Jr., Backstroke/Butterfly; Hastings, Minn. / Hastings)
Jensen made headlines in 2023-24 and was named the Tommies Preseason Swimmer to Watch for the first time in his career as a result. For the second straight season, Jensen qualified for "A" finals in a handful of events at the Summit League Championships, including both the 100 and 200 backstroke. In the 100 back, the then sophomore broke one of the longest standing program records in prelims, surpassing Peter Mullee with a time of 48.34. He would go on to finish fourth in the event, just missing the podium with a time of 48.50. Jensen would finish sixth in the 200 back.
At the same meet, Jensen clocked the second fastest time in program history in the 100 butterfly at 48.52 and helped the 200 medley relay team finish seventh with a school record time of 1:28.99. Outside of the pool, Jensen earned Academic All-District honors from the College of Sport Communicators (CSC) and was named to the Summit League All-Academic Team.
Ben Linde (Jr., Diving; Andover, Minn. / Andover)
Consistency will be key for Linde in 2024-25, as he was picked as St. Thomas' Diver to Watch for the second consecutive season. As a sophomore, Linde qualified for the Summit League Championships on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards for the second straight season and earned several top-3 finishes along the way. He won five competitions through the 2023-24 season, four of which were off the 3-meter board, and recorded a season-best six-dive score of 253.50 on the 1-meter board against South Dakota in early October. At the Summit League Championships, Linde earned top-16 finishes on both boards, qualifying for consolation finals.
Academically, Linde earned several awards at the conclusion of 2023-24. He was named to the Summit League All-Academic Team and was the lone male diver named to the Commissioner's List of Excellence.
Hattie Opdahl (So., Diving; Lindstrom, Minn. / Chisago Lakes)
Opdahl made headlines as a first year in 2023-24, qualifying for the Summit League Championships on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. She was the lone Tommie diver of either gender to qualify for finals at the championship meet and did so on the 3-meter after a career performance. After qualifying for finals as one of the top-8 divers, Opdahl finished fourth in the event that's to a six dive score of 250.20. She also won both the 1-meter and 3-meter six dive competitions in a dual against St. Cloud State in early November and won the 1-meter competition in a dual against Augustana on October 7.
Like her teammates, Opdahl also earned academic honors in 2023-24, qualifying for the Summit League All-Academic Team thanks to her performance in the classroom.
Players Mentioned
Freestyle/Distance/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle/Backstroke
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Backstroke/Butterfly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Freestyle
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Backstroke/IM
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