Northwestern
NCAA Championships
Rosendahl Becomes Program's First National Champ with Platform Victory
3/18/2017 7:06:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Rosendahl came into Saturday night's final as the No. 1 seed after another stellar morning in the preliminary rounds. She took the lead on her fourth dive and finished with a spectacular fifth dive to score a 335.30, nearly 20 points in front of the silver medalist. The victory gives Rosendahl her second All-America honor of the 2017 NCAA championships and third overall.
"Olivia dove with such passion and poise," head coach Abby Steketee said. "She was fierce in her approach on the platform and I couldn't be happier for her as our first-ever national champion. I'm especially proud and happy for Alik for all the work he has put in helping her get to this point."
The Los Angeles, California, native is the first Wildcat since Courtney Allen (1999-2000) to earn multiple All-America honors. She finished eighth in the 3-meter springboard Friday.Olivia Rosendahl is your #NCAASwimDive Platform CHAMPION! First national champion in program history! ??#B1GCats pic.twitter.com/W8zNtdxOUW
— NorthwesternSwimDive (@NUSwimDive) March 19, 2017
The Wildcats finished in the top 25 for the first time since 2008 by scoring 40 team points to finish 21st overall.
"I'm incredibly proud of the way Olivia, Valerie and Melissa competed this week," said Steketee. "The team has reached a new level and this is a great step in the right direction for our program."
The #B1GCats finish 21st as a team at #NCAASwimDive Championships! First Top-25 finish since 2008. ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/iu0S1jZron
— NorthwesternSwimDive (@NUSwimDive) March 19, 2017
Freshman Valerie Gruest Slowing earned Honorable Mention All-America honors with a ninth-place finish in the 1,650 free. Gruest Slowing broke her own school record with a 15:55.01, just .13 seconds off All-America honors. She came in to the event seeded 16th, but finished the first 1,000 in a school-record 9:37.23 and kept the strong pace to break the 16-minute barrier for the first time.
"Valerie was incredibly resilient, overcoming sickness and fighting back after a tough 500 earlier this week," Steketee said. "To earn honorable mention All-America honors in her first trip to national's is a testament of the hard work and dedication she has."
In her 1st trip to the #NCAASwimDive Championships, Valerie Gruest Slowing earns H.M. All-America honors in the 1,650 free. #B1GCats pic.twitter.com/mQOlHAH5uU
— NorthwesternSwimDive (@NUSwimDive) March 18, 2017
Senior Melissa Postoll wrapped her prestigious Northwestern career in the prelims of the 200 back Saturday morning. Postoll, who also competed in the 200 and 400 individual medley events earlier in the week, leaves as the school record holder in all three events.
"Melissa has provided leadership in and out of the pool for us all year," Steketee said. "She has been the heart and soul of our program and I couldn't be more proud of the last legacy she has left on the program."
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Players Mentioned
