Ava Gustafson

Class:
Junior
Position:
Breaststroke
High School:
Rochester Mayo HS
Hometown:
Rochester, Minn.

Career Notes

Ranks seventh in team history in the 200 breast (2:11.01)

Career Honors and Awards

3x winner of Outstanding Student-Athlete Award (GPA of 3.50+) at team banquet (2023-25)
2x Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2024, '25)
2025 CSCAA Spring Scholar All-American First Team

2024-25 Junior Season: Academic All-Big Ten honoree ... won Outstanding Student-Athlete of the year for a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher at team banquet ... First Chance Meet: placed fifth in the 200 IM (2:06.87) ... Purdue/Northwestern Tri-Dual: placed first in the 200 breast (2:11.01) and fifth in the 100 breast (1:02.30) ... Arizona Dual: second in the 400 medley relay (3:41.29), seventh in the 100 breast (1:05.82) and sixth in the 200 breast (2:21.55) ... Arizona State Dual: placed sixth in the 200 medley relay (1:42.48), fifth in the 100 breast (1:03.04) and 200 breast (2:16.73) ... Minnesota Invite: placed second in the 400 medley relay (3:36.75) and ninth in the 100 breast (1:01.71) and 200 breast (2:13.40) ... Iowa Dual: placed second in the 100 breast (1:05.27) and third in the 200 breast (2:22.38) ... Wisconsin Dual: placed third in the 200 breast (2:14.51) ....St. Thomas/South Dakota State Tri-Dual: placed second in the 100 breast (1:06.26) and 200 breast (2:21.66) ... Army Dual: placed third in the 200 breast (2:16.68).

2023-24 Sophomore Season: Academic All-Big Ten honoree ... winner of Outstanding Student-Athlete Award (GPA of 3.50+) at team banquet ... Big Tens: came in 21st in the 200 breast (2:14.87) and 28th in the 100 breast (1:03.76)... Purdue/Iowa/Northwestern Quad-Dual: finished third in the 200 breast (2:15.25), seventh in the 100 breast (1:02.79) and 13th in the 200 IM (2:08.23)... Pitt Dual: placed seventh in both the 100 breast (1:06.32) and 200 breast (2:23.81)... Tampa Dual: won the 100 breast (2:24.00) and got second in the 100 breast (1:07.72)... Minnesota Invite: finished fifth in the 200 breast (2:13.27), 11th in the 100 breast (1:02.19) and 20th in the 200 IM... Wisconsin Dual: got second in the 100 breast (1:04.45) and sixth in the 200 breast (2:22.71)... St. Thomas/South Dakota State Dual: won the 200 breast (2:20.82) and was fourth in the 100 breast (1:05.14)... SMU Dual: placed second in the 200 breast (2:21.30) and fifth in the 100 breast (1:06.23)... Nebraska/South Dakota Dual: swam the 200 breast in 2:22.77 and the 100 breast in 1:05.94

2022-23 Freshman Season: Winner of Outstanding Student-Athlete Award (GPA of 3.50+) at team banquet ... First Chance Meet: earned first in the 100 breast (1:04.67) and second in the 200 breast (2:17.75) and 200 IM (2:09.70) ... Minnesota Invite: came in 32nd in the 100 breast finals (1:05.64), 33rd in the 100 breast prelims (1:04.72), 35th in the 200 breast prelims (2:20.75) and 57th in the 200 IM prelims (2:17.07) ... Iowa Dual: placed fifth in the 100 breast (1:08.28) and swam the 200 breast in an exhibition (2:29.35) ... Wisconsin Dual: claimed eighth in the 100 breast (1:09.35) and swam the 200 breast in an exhibition (2:29.75) ... St. Thomas/South Dakota State Tri-Dual: took seventh in the 100 breast (1:09.62) and swam the 200 breast in an exhibition (2:35.05); also part of the 200 medley relay that finished eighth (1:52.20) ... SMU Dual: finished eighth in the 100 breast (1:08.67) and 200 breast (2:32.77) ... Nebraska/South Dakota Tri-Dual: Made collegiate debut by placing ninth in the 100 breast (1:12.39) and helping the 200 medley relay (1:48.62) to a sixth-place finish

Prep: Attended Rochester Mayo High School where she graduated with honors … named all-state in 2021 … holds team and pool record in 200 medley relay and school record in 100 breast … served as team captain in 2021 … swam at the club level for Rochester Swim Club since 2009 … competed at U.S. Open, Junior Nationals, Speedo Summer Championships and Speedo Sectionals … finished 15th in the 200 breast at the 2021 U.S. Open and 29th at the 2021 Speedo Summer Championships … holds club records in 100-yard breast, 100m breast, 200-yard breast, 200m breast and 100-yard IM … USA Swimming Scholastic All American … two-time Rochester Swim Club Female Athlete of the Year, two-time captain, and 2022 RSC 2022 Short Course Athlete of the Year

Personal: Parents are Robert Gustafson and Laura Franzen … has one younger brother, Nicklaus … uncle, Mark Gustafson, played hockey at Minnesota State … plans to major in neuroscience … hobbies include world geography, piano, reading, crossword puzzles, and writing for her local newspaper

Why Minnesota: "I chose the University of Minnesota because the school has a prestigious academic program with leading research experience. The swim team has had historical success in breaststroke throughout the years due to the superb coaching and the competitive atmosphere. I was impressed by the athletic facilities, and the team had a very welcoming environment."