ROCHESTER, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's swimming and diving team finished in second place at the Rochester Invite with a total of 1,644 points.

The University of South Dakota took first place at the Rochester Invite with 1,889 points, while St. Cloud State (3rd/1,604.5 points) and Sioux Falls (4th/899.5 points). In total, Minnesota State won seven events at the Rochester Invite, including all five of the relay events.

"We had a great weekend at the Rochester Invitational," head coach Nathan Owens said. "Our team was able to step-up in a very competitive big meet environment and posted some incredible results. It was a dog fight between us and St. Cloud State all weekend long. Our relay teams' stepped up big-time and were able to win five out of five relay events, which was enough to edge out a very strong St. Cloud team for second place overall behind the University of South Dakota. The coaches and I were very proud of our team's energy and effort throughout the meet. Performing well at mid-season is our primary goal throughout the fall semester. To accomplish that in such a positive fashion gives us the momentum that we need going into the winter break, our training trip, and the last 2 months of the season. Although we had a great meet, we all know that we can take it to another level during the next 10 weeks. I'm excited to see what we can do and I know that our team is motivated to keep it rolling"

The team of senior Chelsea Calhoon, freshman Emelia Selky, sophomore Maggie Knier and senior Taylor Bass won the 800-yard freestyle relay with a time of 7:36.94, while the quartet of senior Cecilia Hake, freshman Lily Borgenheimer, Bass and Knier won both the 200-yard medley relay (1:44.08) and the 400-yard medley relay (3:48.52) events. 

The group of Knier, Bass, Calhoon and Hake also won the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:34.97, while the team of Knier, senior Kylie Gaeth, Calhoon and Bass won the 400-yard freestyle event with a time of 3:27.95.

Hake also turned in a first place finish in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.67. Knier followed right behind in second place with a time of 23.73. Bass also notched the top time  in the 100-yard IM with a time of 59.28.

Along with her first place finish in the 100-yard IM, Bass also took second in the 200-yard IM (2:07.73), second in the 100-yard butterfly (56.79) and third in the 200-yard butterfly event with a time of 2:07.41 as well. 

Calhoon turned in a pair of third place finishes in the 200-yard backstroke (2:03.59) and the 400-yard IM (4:32.76). Calhoon also placed fourth in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 57.63.

Borgenheimer added a second place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:05.30), while sophomore Alycia Holwerda took third place in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:23.49. 

Sophomore Jaycie Klein took sixth place in the 1-meter diving event with a score of 381.35.

Minnesota State returns to the pool on Dec. 27 as it travels to Hawaii for its annual winter break training trip.

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