WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's and women's swimming and diving teams officially kick off the 2017-18 season on Saturday, as the Cardinals entertain Iowa Lakes Community College and Gustavus. Action begins at noon at the Jul Gernes Pool
 
GameDay Live On The Web:
• GameDay Program
 
The Cardinals' Last Action:
• Saturday's showdown with Iowa Lakes and Gustavus is the season opener for both Cardinal teams.
 
The Cardinals' Up Next:
• The Cardinals are back in action next Saturday, traveling to St. Paul, Minn., to take part in the Hamline Invitational. Action begins at 1 p.m.
 
Scouting The Saint Mary's Cardinals:
2017-18 Men's Roster | 2017-18 Women's Roster | 2017-18 Schedule| Record Book
• Joe Tonda (St. Paul, Minn.) put together a memorable final MIAC Championships last season, placing eighth in the 400 IM (4:25.58), 14^th in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.00), and 18^th in the 200 IM (2:01.23). … Tonda's eighth-place showing in the 400 IM marked the first time in his collegiate career that he earned a spot in the eight-man finals of a conference championship event. … Tonda's eighth-place effort was also the Cardinals' top individual finish. … All three of Tonda's swims at the MIAC Championships were the fastest of his career. … Grace VanBeest (Flossmoor, Ill.) also had a busy final MIAC Championships, finishing 12^th in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.20), 16^th in the 200 breaststroke (2:34.48) and 18^th in the 400 IM (5:06.15).  … The Cardinal trio of Zoe Schaetz (Winona, Minn.), Hannah Emeott (Chisago, City, Minn.) and Chloe Morrison (Ashkum, Ill.) recorded times of 2:17.08, 2:17.82, and 2:18.98, respectively, in the 200 freestyle at the season-ending conference championships. … Emeott also chipped in her best time of the season in the 100 freestyle, touching the wall in 1;05.02, while Chloe Morrison (Ashkum, Ill.) and Schaetz added career-best times of 20:32.80 and 20:54.62, respectively, in the 1,650 freestyle. … Kierra Walske (Rochester, Minn.) led the way for the Cardinal divers at the season-ending conference championships, with Walske placing 13^th in the 3-meter and 18^th in the one-meter.