WINONA, Minn. — It was a day of firsts—and one very memorable last—for the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota swimming and diving teams Saturday afternoon.
 
In their first home meet of the season, the Cardinals bid farewell to their three graduating seniors—who were competing in their last collegiate meet at Jul Gernes Pool—when Saint Mary's squared off against Hamline in a dual meet.
 
And what a send-off it proved to be.
 
The Cardinal teams combined for eight first-place finishes—unfortunately, it was not quite enough to surpass the Pipers' depth, as Hamline handed the Saint Mary's men a 68-63 setback, while the HU men completed the sweep with a 106-104 victory.
 
"It was a great meet—so many outstanding performances," said Saint Mary's coach Eric Lindquist. "It's always a bit bittersweet when you have a Senior Day, but today was a great day all the way around."
 
Christina Weldai (London, England) led a 1-2-3 finish in the 50 freestyle, clocking a time of 28.57 to out-touch teammate Ashling Meehan (Glenview, Ill.)—one of those three Cardinal seniors—who finished in 28.95, while Sarah Fanning (Sparta, Wis.) was third in 30.62.
 
Weldai notched her second first-place showing in the 100 freestyle with a time of 1;02.64, while Reese Galewski (Winona, Minn.) chipped in a first in the 200 IM with a time of 2:28.77, and also placed second in the 500 freestyle (6:00.73)
 
Grace VanBeest (Flossmoor, Ill.) joined the "first parade" with a winning time of 2:40.63 in the 200 breaststroke, and tallied a second in the 200 IM (2:29.32). Janelle Mueller picked up Saint Mary's fifth first-place finish, totaling 209.30 in the one-meter diving.
 
On the men's side, Joe Tonda (St. Paul, Minn.) recorded a pair of firsts—winning the 200 IM (2:12.39) and 200 backstroke (2:15.95), with Zac Finkelstein (Naperville, Ill.) chipping in a first in the 50 freestyle (23.40).
 
The Cardinals hit the road next Saturday, heading to St. Paul, Minn., to take part in the St. Catherine Invitational.