A gathering at Sally’s Saloon and Eatery (700 Washington Ave SE) will follow the meet, with Minnesota swag and giveaways along with free appetizers and drinks for alumni.
2015 MINNESOTA AQUATICS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
The night will also include the induction of four former Gopher swimmers: Stacy Busack ‘09, Justin Mortimer ‘05, Lynn Newton ‘92 and Terry Silkaitis ‘05 into the Minnesota Aquatics Hall of Fame.
2009 graduate Stacy Busack was a 13-time All-American during her time at the University of Minnesota. She earned Minnesota four Big Ten titles, including a Big Ten Meet Record performance in the 100-yard freestyle in 2009. During her junior season, Busack helped the Gophers become Big Ten Champions for the first time since 2000. The four-time letter winner was named to both the First and Second Team All-Big Ten during her time as a Golden Gopher. Busack held 14 records as a Gopher, holding top times in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay in both short course yards and long course meters. Through her four seasons on the Gophers squad, Busack collected 309 points during the Championships seasons. She was also a team captain during senior season. After her years a student-athlete, Busack was a volunteer assistant coach for four years at Minnesota, and is currently an assistant swimming coach at University of Pittsburgh. Busack is from Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
At the 2004 U.S. Summer Nationals, Minnesota’s Justin Mortimer (2005) was a four-time U.S. Champion, capturing first in the 200-meter free, 400-meter free, 800-meter free and 400-meter IM. As a Gopher, Mortimer finished his illustrious career with 13 All-America awards, finished in the top-eight three times, including a third place finish in the 500 free. Mortimer went on to win three medals at the World University Games over the summer after his senior season. He claimed Big Ten gold in the 1650 freestyle in 2003 and still holds Minnesota school records in five events, including the 500-yard free (4:14.21), 1000-yard free (8:56.27), 1650-yard free (14:45.20), 400-meter free (3:50.43) and 1500-meter free (15:13.44). The physics major also earned academic accolades during his time as a Gopher, including being named to the Academic All-District Men’s At-Large Team and to the Big Ten’s Winter Academic All Conference Team. Mortimer is from Milton, Massachusetts.
Lynn Newton (1992) was a key distance freestyle swimmer for the Gophers. She became one of the Big Ten Conference’s top distance swimmers and was undefeated in the 1000-yard free and 1650-yard free in college dual meets, and was an A-finalist all four years in the distance events. Her highest finish at the Big Ten Championships was a silver medal in the 1650 free, where she set Minnesota team records in the 1000 and 1650 free. Newton was a five-time NCAA qualifier and twice earned earned All-American Honorable Mention status. The former Gopher captain qualified for several national meets, including the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Trials, and in 1986, 1990 and 1991 was ranked in the top 25 in the world in the 1500-meter freestyle. She has been inducted into the Minnesota Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame, served as vice president and president of the Minnesota Swimming Coaches Association and has been named Minnesota Class A High School Coach of the Year since her time at the University of Minnesota. Newton is from Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.
Terry Silkaitis (2005) was a 23-time All-American, and is considered the most decorated swimmer in the history of the Minnesota program. Silkaitis was the 2003 Big Ten Swimmer of the Year after becoming the first Golden Gopher to win the 50-yard free, 100-yard free and 200-yard free events at the Conference Championships. During his time as a Gopher, he was a nine-time Big Ten Champion. Silkaitis still holds the men’s teams in the 200 free (1:34.24) record, member of 400 free relay record 2:51.24, 2004). He represented Team USA at the 2005 World University Games with teammate and fellow 2015 Hall of Fame inductee Justin Mortimer. Silkaitis is from Skokie, Illinois.
LOOKING AHEAD
Minnesota will begin the 2015-16 season on the road against Florida State. The meet is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3 in Tallahassee.
Swimming news courtesy of Minnesota Swimming & Diving.
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