University of Minnesota Athletics
2023-24 Men's Swimming & Diving Roster
Christenson, William
William Christenson
- Class:
- Senior
- Position:
- Freestyle/Butterfly/IM
- Hometown:
- Olympia, Wash.
- High School:
- Olympia HS
Bio
Career Notes
Career Honors and Awards
2023-24 Senior Season: Winner of the Jerry McCaul Award for his enthusiasm and dedication along with the Outstanding Student-Athlete Award (3.50 GPA or higher) at this year’s team banquet…Academic All-Big Ten Last Chance Meet: Won the 400 IM prelims (3:44.87)... Big Tens: Placed seventh in the 400 IM finals (personal best of 3:44.38), 21st in the 500 free finals (4:23.33), and 12th in the 1650 free finals (personal best of 15:08.70)... Purdue/Northwestern Tri-Dual: Won the 400 IM (3:47.20) while placing third in the 500 free (4:25.56) and fifth in the 1000 free (9:08.49)... Pitt Dual: Won the 1000 free (9:15.67), earned second in the 500 free (4:33.78), and third in the 200 fly (1:48.45)... Tampa Dual: Earned wins in the 1000 free (9:19.80) and the 400 IM (3:54.33); plus, a second-place finish in the 200 fly (1:49.02)... Minnesota Invitational: Placed fifth in the 500 free (4:22.30) and the 400 IM (3:48.31) along with sixth place in the 1650 free (15:15.57)... Wisconsin Dual: Finished third in the 200 fly (1:48.98), fourth in the 1000 free (9:16.12), and sixth in the 200 IM (1:53.52)... St. Thomas/South Dakota State Tri-Dual: Won the 1000 free (9:20.39) and finished fourth in the 100 fly (50.19)... SMU Dual: Earned second in the 400 IM (3:49.80), third in the 200 fly (1:46.75), and fifth in the 500 free (4:28.63)... Nebraska/South Dakota Tri-Dual: Placed first in the 200 fly (1:48.01) and second in the 500 free (4:34.22)
2022-23 Junior Season: CSC Academic All-District honoree ... Academic All-Big Ten honoree ... named Hardest Worker and Outstanding Student-Athlete (GPA of 3.50+) at team banquet ... Big Tens: came in eighth in the 400 IM (3:47.23), 11th in the 1650 free (15:08.92) and 16th in the 500 free (4:22.60) ... Northwestern/Purdue Tri-Dual: took first in the 400 IM (3:50.98), third in the 500 free (4:26.88) and 1000 free (9:06.83), and fifth in the 200 fly (1:47.41); also part of the 800 free relay that took fifth (6:42.81) ... Minnesota Invite: came in second in the 400 IM (3:48.39), seventh in the 1650 free (15:19.62), and 13th in the 500 free (4:23.56) and 200 fly (1:47.02) ... Wisconsin Dual: claimed third in the 200 fly (1:48.78) and 1000 free (9:16.22), and fifth in the 500 free (4:35.37); also part of the 400 free relay that claimed fourth (3:08.05) ... St. Thomas/South Dakota State Tri-Dual: took first in the 100 fly (50.70) and second in the 200 back (1:51.73) and 200 free (1:40.76); also part of the 400 free relay exhibition (3:08.40) ... SMU Dual: finished second in the 200 fly (1:49.48), 200 IM (1:51.72) and 400 IM (3:54.32); also part of the 400 free relay that finished sixth (3:10.49) ... South Dakota Dual: victorious in the 1000 free (9:23.41) and 200 IM (1:52.19) • CSCAA Second Team Scholar All-American
2021-22 Sophomore Season: Won Most Improved Award and Outstanding Student-Athlete Award (GPA of 3.50+) at team banquet • finished 14th in the 400 IM finals (3:50.79), 18th in the 200 fly finals (1:46.35) and 21st in the 500 free finals (4:23.15) at the Big Ten Championships • won the 500 free (4:26.28) at the Minnesota First Chance Meet • placed second in the 400 IM (3:52.62), third in the 200 fly (1:47.70) and 1000 free (9:10.94), and seventh in the 500 free (4:29.28) in a tri-dual against Northwestern and Purdue; also helped an 800 free relay to fifth (6:41.06) • claimed fourth in the 200 fly (1:50.55), seventh in the 1000 free (9:20.99) and 11th in the 500 free (4:35.95) in a tri-dual versus Wisconsin and Michigan • at the Minnesota Invite, placed 17th in the 400 IM finals (3:53.82), 19th in the 200 fly finals (1:48.45), 29th in the 1650 free (15:48.75) and 37th in the 500 free finals (4:29.51) • took fourth in the 200 fly (1:50.62) versus Wisconsin · placed fourth in the 1000 free (9:31.91) against St. Thomas · finished second in the 200 fly (1:50.95) and eighth in the 200 breast (2:17.01) at Purdue • CSCAA Second Team Scholar All-American • Big Ten Distinguished Scholar • Academic All-Big Ten honoree
2020-21 Freshman Season: Competed in three events at the 2021 Big Ten Championships, finishing 27th in the 1650 free (15:40.32) and 400 IM (3:56.43) and 28th in the 200 fly (1:48.26) · recorded a second place finish in the 200 fly (1:49.32) and a fifth place finish in the 500 free (4:31.74) against Iowa · touched sixth in the 1000 free (9:20.55) and 200 fly (1:50.42) during the Wisconsin/Purdue tri-dual · named “Hardest Worker” by team at the end-of-season team award banquet.
High School: A 2020 graduate of Olympia H.S. · solely competed for the Evergreen Swim Club · three-time Scholastic All-American · 2020 Thurston County Boy Sports Star of the Year · four-time participant at the Winter Junior National Championships · 2019 qualifier for the USA Swimming U.S. Open Championships · medalist at four consecutive Washington State Senior Short Course Championships from 2016-19 · medalist at five consecutive Pacific Northwest Swimming (PNS) Long Course Championships · 2018 PNS Long Course Championships Male High Point Award recipient.
Personal: Native of Olympia, Wash. · parents are Heather & Jeffery Christenson · grandfather & mother both rowed collegiately for the University of Washington · lists his favorite sports moment as the 2008 men’s 400 free relay at the Beijing Olympics · has a pet snake named Jake · hobbies include playing card & board games, as well as talking & spending time with his family
- Ranks fifth in team history for the 400 IM (3:46.08), 10th for the 1000 free (9:06.83) and 12th for the 1650 free (15:08.92)
Career Honors and Awards
- 2023 CSC Third Team Academic All-American
- 2023 All-District honoree
- 2x CSCAA Second Team Scholar All-American (2022-23)
- 2022 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
- 3x Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2022-24)
- Winner of the Jerry McCaul Award and Outstanding Student-Athlete (GPA of 3.50+) at 2024 team banquet
- Tabbed Hardest Worker and Outstanding Student-Athlete Ward (GPA of 3.50+) at 2023 team banquet
- Won Most Improved Award and Outstanding Student-Athlete Award (GPA of 3.50+) at 2022 team banquet
- Named Hardest Worker at 2021 team banquet
2023-24 Senior Season: Winner of the Jerry McCaul Award for his enthusiasm and dedication along with the Outstanding Student-Athlete Award (3.50 GPA or higher) at this year’s team banquet…Academic All-Big Ten Last Chance Meet: Won the 400 IM prelims (3:44.87)... Big Tens: Placed seventh in the 400 IM finals (personal best of 3:44.38), 21st in the 500 free finals (4:23.33), and 12th in the 1650 free finals (personal best of 15:08.70)... Purdue/Northwestern Tri-Dual: Won the 400 IM (3:47.20) while placing third in the 500 free (4:25.56) and fifth in the 1000 free (9:08.49)... Pitt Dual: Won the 1000 free (9:15.67), earned second in the 500 free (4:33.78), and third in the 200 fly (1:48.45)... Tampa Dual: Earned wins in the 1000 free (9:19.80) and the 400 IM (3:54.33); plus, a second-place finish in the 200 fly (1:49.02)... Minnesota Invitational: Placed fifth in the 500 free (4:22.30) and the 400 IM (3:48.31) along with sixth place in the 1650 free (15:15.57)... Wisconsin Dual: Finished third in the 200 fly (1:48.98), fourth in the 1000 free (9:16.12), and sixth in the 200 IM (1:53.52)... St. Thomas/South Dakota State Tri-Dual: Won the 1000 free (9:20.39) and finished fourth in the 100 fly (50.19)... SMU Dual: Earned second in the 400 IM (3:49.80), third in the 200 fly (1:46.75), and fifth in the 500 free (4:28.63)... Nebraska/South Dakota Tri-Dual: Placed first in the 200 fly (1:48.01) and second in the 500 free (4:34.22)
2022-23 Junior Season: CSC Academic All-District honoree ... Academic All-Big Ten honoree ... named Hardest Worker and Outstanding Student-Athlete (GPA of 3.50+) at team banquet ... Big Tens: came in eighth in the 400 IM (3:47.23), 11th in the 1650 free (15:08.92) and 16th in the 500 free (4:22.60) ... Northwestern/Purdue Tri-Dual: took first in the 400 IM (3:50.98), third in the 500 free (4:26.88) and 1000 free (9:06.83), and fifth in the 200 fly (1:47.41); also part of the 800 free relay that took fifth (6:42.81) ... Minnesota Invite: came in second in the 400 IM (3:48.39), seventh in the 1650 free (15:19.62), and 13th in the 500 free (4:23.56) and 200 fly (1:47.02) ... Wisconsin Dual: claimed third in the 200 fly (1:48.78) and 1000 free (9:16.22), and fifth in the 500 free (4:35.37); also part of the 400 free relay that claimed fourth (3:08.05) ... St. Thomas/South Dakota State Tri-Dual: took first in the 100 fly (50.70) and second in the 200 back (1:51.73) and 200 free (1:40.76); also part of the 400 free relay exhibition (3:08.40) ... SMU Dual: finished second in the 200 fly (1:49.48), 200 IM (1:51.72) and 400 IM (3:54.32); also part of the 400 free relay that finished sixth (3:10.49) ... South Dakota Dual: victorious in the 1000 free (9:23.41) and 200 IM (1:52.19) • CSCAA Second Team Scholar All-American
2021-22 Sophomore Season: Won Most Improved Award and Outstanding Student-Athlete Award (GPA of 3.50+) at team banquet • finished 14th in the 400 IM finals (3:50.79), 18th in the 200 fly finals (1:46.35) and 21st in the 500 free finals (4:23.15) at the Big Ten Championships • won the 500 free (4:26.28) at the Minnesota First Chance Meet • placed second in the 400 IM (3:52.62), third in the 200 fly (1:47.70) and 1000 free (9:10.94), and seventh in the 500 free (4:29.28) in a tri-dual against Northwestern and Purdue; also helped an 800 free relay to fifth (6:41.06) • claimed fourth in the 200 fly (1:50.55), seventh in the 1000 free (9:20.99) and 11th in the 500 free (4:35.95) in a tri-dual versus Wisconsin and Michigan • at the Minnesota Invite, placed 17th in the 400 IM finals (3:53.82), 19th in the 200 fly finals (1:48.45), 29th in the 1650 free (15:48.75) and 37th in the 500 free finals (4:29.51) • took fourth in the 200 fly (1:50.62) versus Wisconsin · placed fourth in the 1000 free (9:31.91) against St. Thomas · finished second in the 200 fly (1:50.95) and eighth in the 200 breast (2:17.01) at Purdue • CSCAA Second Team Scholar All-American • Big Ten Distinguished Scholar • Academic All-Big Ten honoree
2020-21 Freshman Season: Competed in three events at the 2021 Big Ten Championships, finishing 27th in the 1650 free (15:40.32) and 400 IM (3:56.43) and 28th in the 200 fly (1:48.26) · recorded a second place finish in the 200 fly (1:49.32) and a fifth place finish in the 500 free (4:31.74) against Iowa · touched sixth in the 1000 free (9:20.55) and 200 fly (1:50.42) during the Wisconsin/Purdue tri-dual · named “Hardest Worker” by team at the end-of-season team award banquet.
High School: A 2020 graduate of Olympia H.S. · solely competed for the Evergreen Swim Club · three-time Scholastic All-American · 2020 Thurston County Boy Sports Star of the Year · four-time participant at the Winter Junior National Championships · 2019 qualifier for the USA Swimming U.S. Open Championships · medalist at four consecutive Washington State Senior Short Course Championships from 2016-19 · medalist at five consecutive Pacific Northwest Swimming (PNS) Long Course Championships · 2018 PNS Long Course Championships Male High Point Award recipient.
Personal: Native of Olympia, Wash. · parents are Heather & Jeffery Christenson · grandfather & mother both rowed collegiately for the University of Washington · lists his favorite sports moment as the 2008 men’s 400 free relay at the Beijing Olympics · has a pet snake named Jake · hobbies include playing card & board games, as well as talking & spending time with his family
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