Aberdeen, S.D.— The University of Sioux Falls Swimming Team (4-2), which won 9-of-11 events, defeated Northern State (1-8), 126-76 in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference dual competition on Friday night.
Sophomore All-American
Cassie Wright claimed three total victories during the meet which included swimming the opening leg of the first place 200-yard medley relay team along with
Chantal Kasch,
Ella Johnson and
Leah Eagleton. Wright also took the top time in the 50 free (24.52) edging out teammate
Tori Bailey who finished just behind Wright with a time of 26.50. Wright dominated the 200 back (2:05.43), where she defeated NSU's Ashley Dunn (2:22.22) by almost 17 seconds. Wright now has amassed 15 individual wins in seven contests so far this year.
Freshman
Jenna Krahn also recorded three overall first place finishes as she swam the third leg of the winning 400-yard freestyle relay team with teammates
Elizabeth Spaans,
Nina Groene and
Giulia Marcon. Krahn took the top overall time in the 200 free (1:59.66) where she finished ahead of Johnson (2:01.42) and Groene (2:02.40), and recorded the top time in the 100 free with a time of 55.09.
USF Head Coach
Chris Hamstra was proud of his team's overall performance in the meet.
"We had a great meet to open the 2019 year. Our team came out with everything they had," said Hamstra. "We have come a long way in learning how to perform and race on the road. We are getting physically better and mentally stronger each week."
Aside from anchoring the first-place 400 relay, Marcon also recorded the top finish in the 1000 free with a time of 10:56.35. USF sophomore Alex Sanchez-Clark claimed the second overall finish with a time of 11:03.33 and was followed by teammate Evelyn Van De Mark with a third place finish (11:11.73).
Spaans claimed the top overall time in the 500 free with a time of 5:18.05 where she defeated MSU swimmer Maida Walters (5:34.03) by almost 16 seconds. Spaans also gained a second place finish in the 200 IM after clocking a time of 2:14.14 behind NSU swimmer Hannah Kastigar, who clocked a NCAA 'B' cut time of 2:05.29.
Kasch recorded an individual first place finish in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:26.63. Kasch defeated the second place finisher, NSU swimmer Shayna Asuncion (2:41.08), by almost 14 seconds.
The USF Swimming Team will next host Iowa Lakes Community College on Saturday, Jan. 19 for a 1 p.m. dual meet at the Midco Aquatic Center.
