TITLE IX SPOTLIGHT, Swimming & Diving

CSP celebrates the 50th anniversary of Title IX

4.27.23

By: Patrick Rydeen

ST. PAUL, Minn. – In honor of the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX, the Concordia-St. Paul athletic department will be spotlighting its nine female athletic programs throughout the 2022-23 school year. The fifth spotlight is the CSP swimming and diving program.

We are grateful for the women who fought against great adversity to get Title IX in action, making way for opportunities our female student-athletes have today. The addition of swim and dive at CSP in 2019 has provided our student-athletes with an invaluable, formative experience of academic, athletic, spiritual, and personal growth. Involvement in swimming cultivates love, teamwork, time management, empowerment, and strength to overcome challenges. We honor the women who paved the way by using swimming to equip women to be leaders in and out of the pool.

CSP head coach Rachel Busch

The 2022-23 Concordia-St. Paul swimming and diving team

PROGRAM FIRSTS

First Competition: at St.Cloud State (Exhibition), 01/28/2021; 2020-21 NSIC Championships, 2/10-13/21
First Home Meet: Concordia-St. Paul vs. Minnesota State vs. Southwest Minnesota State, 10/22/22
First Dual Win: Jamestown (N.D.), 11/12/22
First NSIC Championship Point Scorer: Laura Vekony, 200 Butterfly, 2/13/21
First B-Cut Time: Farida Maher, 100 & 200 freestyle, Augustana Invitational, 11/20/21
First All-NSIC Selection: Farida Maher, 200 & 500 freestyle, 2022

Title IX has impacted my life in infinite ways. The relationships I’ve developed and the lessons I’ve learned are incredibly valuable to my wellbeing. It’s hard to imagine my life without the opportunity of competing at the collegiate level. My mother, grandmothers, and aunts love to watch me compete. Especially considering they did not have the same opportunities I did when they were my age because Title IX had not been established yet. I’ll forever be grateful for my time as a college athlete and I have tremendous respect for the women who were before me and fought for this opportunity.

CSP freshman Hannah Hartlage

Golden Bears celebrate their first ever home victory as they defeated Augsburg on Jan. 21, 2023

Title IX provides us equality, protection, and freedom from sex-based discrimination at CSP. This way we can study and play our sports in a safe environment and that is a huge part of success.

CSP sophomore Laura Vekony

ALL-NSIC SELECTIONS

Farida Maher, NSIC Freshman of the Year, 2022
Farida Maher, 200 yard freestyle (2nd), 2022
Farida Maher, 500 yards freestyle (3rd), 2022
Farida Maher, 100 yard freestyle (2nd), 2023
Farida Maher, 200 yard freestyle (2nd), 2023
Farida Maher, 500 yards freestyle (2nd), 2023
Farida Maher, 1000 yard freestyle (2nd), 2023

PROGRAM RECORD HOLDERS

Farida Maher (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 1000 freestyle, 1650 freestyle)
Chloe Rihon (100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 100 individual medley, 200 individual medley, 400 individual medley)
Charly Horn (50 breaststroke, 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke)
Hannah Hartlage (50 butterfly, 100 butterfly)
Sydney Fleming (50 backstroke)
Laura Vekony (200 Butterfly)