Complete Meet Results

WINONA, Minn. — Coach Eric Lindquist knew heading into Saint Mary's University's home opener how good the Gustavus swimming and diving teams were.

And Saturday, Lindquist's Cardinals got a first-hand look of their own.

The Gusties, fueled by a pair of pool record-setting performances, cruised to a pair of dual-meet wins over the Cardinals. GAC beat the SMU women 146-71, while the Gustie men came away with a 135-22 triumph.

Yet, despite the losses, Lindquist — not to mention volunteer assistant and SMU president Brother Craig Franz, FSC — was all smiles after the meet.

"It was terrific to be at home and to see our kids really giving it their all," Brother Craig said after the meet.

"There is always the swimming side of things, and I thought we swam very well, despite the final scores," chipped in Lindquist. "But it was terrific to see our kids really show up as a team.

"There was a spirit, a unity, and all the intangibles we needed to have against a team like Gustavus," continued Lindquist. "It was the attitude that produced the results for us."

Results that included a first-place finish by Danielle Braun (Cold Spring, Minn.) in the 100 breaststroke (1:14.43) and a second-place showing by the 200 freestyle relay team of Braun, Kasey Schultz (Cary, Ill.), Margaret Walsh (Chicago, Ill.) and Toni Nigrelli (Kiel, Wis.), which was out-touched by the Gusties 1:53.02 to 1:54.94.

Along with her effort in the 200 freestyle relay, Schultz also chipped in third-place finishes in the 1,000 freestyle (12:33.07) and the 500 freestyle (6:04.38), while Walsh was second in the 200 IM (2:36.57) and Nigrelli was third in the 100 butterfly (1:13.84).

It was more solid showings on the men's side, as Brian Joyce (Chicago, Ill.) notched thirds in the 100 freestyle (55.22) and 100 breaststroke (1:11.27), and also teamed with Mike Marek (Winona, Minn.), DeAndrae Noble (St. Paul, Minn.) and Gerry Lentino (Chicago, Ill.) to take second in the 200 medley relay (2:07.68).

"We were as ready as we could be," said Lindquist. "Gustavus is a tough team and they proved that today."