SIOUX FALLS – After more than a month away from competition, University of Sioux Falls Swimming concludes their dual meet schedule for the season on Saturday, Jan. 13. The Cougars will host Minnesota State at the Midco Aquatic Center (26th Street & Western Ave) with the dual set to begin at 1 p.m.
Led by interim head coach
Rita Koryukova, USF Swimming has a 2-2 dual record this year, including a 2-1 mark against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference programs. USF's lone loss came against MSU Moorhead, but the Cougars won the swimming portion of the dual before MSUM's diving points were added to the final score.
In its second year as a program, USF will face fellow NSIC member Minnesota State for the second time. In the first meeting, the Cougars were handed a 132-76 loss in Mankato, Minn. a year ago. Heading into the meet, Minnesota has a 4-1 dual record this year, defeating USF rival and NSIC member Augustana, 140-115.
At last season's NSIC Championships, the Cougars and Mavericks provided the most thrilling finish of the four-day meet. In the 200 freestyle relay, MSU edged Sioux Falls by 0.01 second, but the runner-up finish was still the first All-NSIC performance in USF Swimming's history. The relays scheduled for Saturday's dual are the 200 medley relay and the meet will finish with a rematch of the 200 free relay. Currently, Minnesota State has the top time in the conference this season in both relays.
With big performances at the Rochester Invitational, sophomore
Maike Doerr overtook the lead in the 100 and 200 butterfly. Doerr owns the top time this season in both events, a 56.63-second finish in the 100 fly and a 2:06.11 time in the 200 fly. The St. Ingbert, Germany native also has top-five times in the 200 individual medley and 200 freestyle.
Other races to watch include the 50 and 100 free, which will feature three of the top sprinters in the conference. Sophomore
Ingelin Lima and freshman
Jenna Krahn will take on MSU's Cecelia Hake and Margeret Knier in the 50 free and 100 free with all four registering times in the top 10 of the NSIC this season.
Freshman
Nina Groene and
Evelyn VanDeMark were already putting together special seasons before the Rochester Invite, the first open meet of the season, but they also became the first Cougars to record national qualifying times this season. Groene clocked a 17:55.01 in the 1650 freestyle to reach the B cut time standard. VanDeMark turned in one of the top times at the Rochester Invite, posting a 5:06.01 finish in the 500 free to reach the B standard.
Gig Bario narrowly missed the cut in both backstroke distances and she will play a key role in Saturday's dual as she ranks just behind MSU swimmers in the backstroke performance lists this year.
After the Minnesota State dual, the Cougars will compete in the USD Coyote Invitational on Feb. 2 and 3, which will be the last meet before the NSIC Championships in Rochester, Minn. from Feb. 14-17.
