By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University swimming teams officially kick off the 2019-20 seasons this weekend at the Jul Gernes Pool, with the Cardinal women hosting Concordia in a dual on Friday at 6 p.m., while both squads will take on Iowa Lakes Community College in dual meets on Saturday at noon.
 
The Cardinals' Last Action:
• This weekend's action against Concordia and Iowa Lakes Community Coilege are the season openers for the Cardinals.
 
The Cardinals vs. Concordia — Their Last Meeting:
• Friday's meet will be the first official dual between the Cardinals and Cobbers.
 
The Cardinals vs. Iowa Lakes — Their Last Meeting:
• October 27, 2018 * Winona, Minn.: Saint Mary's combined for seven first-place finishes — not to mention 12 second-place efforts — as the Cardinals split their duals against Iowa Lakes Community College, with the men winning 93-75, while the women dropped a 99-91 decision at the Jul Gernes Pool | Recap
 
The Cardinals' Up Next:
• The Cardinals are back in action next Saturday, heading to St. Paul, Minn., to take part in the Hamline Invitational.
 
Scouting The Saint Mary's Cardinals:
2019-20 Men's Roster | 2019-20 Women's Roster | 2019-20 Schedule | Record Book
• Brooke Shefchik (Stevens Point, Wis.) had a hand in three school records at the season-ending MIAC Championships a year ago. The sophomore touched the wall in 5:32.44 in the 500 freestyle, breaking the 15-year-old school record of 5:35.84, set by Heidi Andre in 2014. In the 400 IM, shaved three seconds off Linda Tierney's seven-year-old mark — touching the wall in 5:00.89. She also teamed with Ashlyn Seifert (Austin, Texas), Katie Beitz (Blaine, Minn.), and Claire King (Red Wing, Minn.) team to post a time of 8:30.88, breaking the old school mark of 8:32.71, set in 2017. … The Cardinal men had three individuals reach the consolation finals at the MIAC Championships last season. Griffin Rades (Shawano, Wis.) posted a time of 1:03.13 to qualify for the consolation finals in the 100 breaststroke, while Cole Stepanovich (St. Francis, Wis.) earned a consolation final berth with a time of 58.68 in the 100 backstroke. In the finals, Stepanovich clocked a time of 58.87 to place 15th, while Rades posted a time of 1:03.56 to finished 16th. … Alex Morrow (Stevens Point, Wis.) also qualified for the consolation final in the 200 butterfly, posting a prelim time of 2:09.54. In the consolation finals, Morrow touched the wall in 2:10.25 to place 16th overall. … Shefchik and Kierra Walske (Rochester, Minn.) each collected two first-place finishes to pace the Cardinal women at the Ripon double-dual on Jan. 26. Shefchik collected her firsts in the 500 freestyle (5:44.99) and 1,000 freestyle (11:42.33), while Walske swept the diving events, totaling 167.10 points in the one-meter and 188.65 in the three-meter. … Morrow recorded the Cardinal men's first-place finish at the Ripon double-dual on Jan. 26, stopping the clock in 2:11.80 to win the 200 butterfly, while also adding a second in the 1,000 freestyle (11:20.71). … Saint Mary's combined for 38 season-best swims, as well as 11 lifetime-bests at the Rochester Invitational on Dec. 8-9. … The Cardinals qualified six swimmers into the finals at the Rochester Invitational on Dec. 8-9. Morrow placed second in the 200 butterfly C Final with a time of 2:09.35, while Stepanovich added a 2:09.35 to finish third and Darren Anes Dy Quiangco (Rochester, Minn.) added a fourth-place time of 2:19.36. Stepanovich also reached the finals in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly — delivering a lifetime-best 2:10.90 in the 200 IM and a season-best 57.62 in the 100 butterfly. … Along with his effort in the 200 butterfly, Anes Dy Quiangco also reached the finals in the 200 IM, posting a lifetime-best time of 2:17.54. … Rades picked up a pair of third-place finishes to lead the way for the Cardinal men at the Luther Invitational on Nov. 17, while Shefchik recorded a fifth and Katie Beitz (Blaine, Minn.) added a sixth to pace the Saint Mary's women. … Shefchik's 1,000 freestyle time of 11:41.46 against St. Norbert on Nov. 2 was the third-fastest time in program history. … The Cardinals put together 10 top-five finishes at Macalester's Roger Ahlman Invitational on Nov. 10 — with the SMU men recording six top fives, while the Saint Mary's women added four. … The Cardinals recorded a combined 12 first-place finishes in their duals against St. Norbert on Nov. 2. … Saint Mary's kicked off the season in grand fashion, collecting seven first-place finishes — not to mention 12 second-place efforts — in duals against Iowa Lakes Community College. … Rades broke six school records at the 2018 MIAC Championships — including a fourth-place time of 4:11.11 in the 400 IM.