BISMARCK, N.D. – Led by Ella Johnson, Elizabeth Spaans, Jenna Krahn and Chantal Kasch, the University of Sioux Falls Swimming Team opened the season with a dominating performance at the Quad Dual hosted by the University of Mary on Oct. 4-5. The Cougars, which is now 3-0 in dual competition, defeated U-Mary, 303-119; Northern State, 329-78 and Augustana, 267-141, after competition wrapped up on Saturday.

USF showed extraordinary depth which allowed the Cougars to build points throughout the course of the dual competition. The Cougars captured 18 wins over the two days of competition with 13 individual titles and five relay victories.

"This was a great way to start the year against conference opponents," said second year head coach Chris Hamstra. "This meet was a precursor to what the NSIC Championship will be like and a good introduction to collegiate swimming for our freshmen.  These young ladies banded together to race hard start to finish and our depth and strength across the roster play a key role in our wins," he said.

Sophomore Ella Johnson, who was named USF's Athlete to Watch in the preseason coaches poll, had a big opening meet with seven total victories which included individual wins in the 200 fly, 100 fly and 50 fly. She also was part of the 400 free, 400 medley, 200 medley and 800 free relays which picked up wins. Johnson, who earned All-American honors at the DII championships last spring, captured the 200 fly in 2:02.00 which was a NCAA "B" cut and the No. 1 time in Division II. She led a 1-2 effort in the 200 fly as freshman Valerie Childs was second in 2:13.20. In the 100 fly, Johnson captured the title in 57:08 as USF placed three in the top four in the race. Freshman Ursula Demarquet was third in 1:00.10 while freshman Valerie Childs was fourth in 1:00.12.  In the 50 fly, Johnson captured the title with a 26.31 clocking. Childs was fourth in 27.49.

Johnson swam the third leg of USF's winning 200 medley relay which finished in 1:47.89. Other team members on the 200 medley relay included Spaans, Kasch and Krahn.  Johnson was part of the winning 400 free relay in 3:37.21 which also included Krahn, Giulia Marcon and Demarquet.  USF's second place 400 free relay finished in 3:40.44 with a team of Spaans, Leah Eagleton, Tori Bailey and Evelyn VanDeMark. Johnson, Spaans, Kasch and Marcon won the title in the 400 medley relay in 3:57.11. USF also was second in the 400 medley relay with Julia Zanto, freshman Abby Ford, Demarquet and Krahn. In addition, Johnson was part of the 800 free relay, which finish in 7:54.57. Aside from Johnson, Spaans, Marcon and Leah Eagleton also swam on the winning squad. USF was also fourth in the 800 free relay with Nina Groene, freshman Makenzy Kennedy, Evelyn VanDeMark and Ford.

Krahn, who was part of five victories individually or as a member of a relay, helped lead USF to a win in the 200 free relay in 1:39.95. She was joined on the team by Marcon, Bailey and Eagleton. USF also had a second place squad with Spaans, Ford, Sydnie Saddoris and DeMarquet clocking a 1:40.98.
 
Krahn led a strong USF contingent in the 50 free by clocking a 24.65 to claim the title. In that race, Marcon was third in 25.01 while Demarquet was fourth in 25.02 with Eagleton, sixth, 25.50 and Bailey, eighth in 25.68.
Krahn also picked up a title in the 100 free in 54:06. In the race, USF dominated by taking the top four spots in the race. Demarquet was second in 54.08 while Marcon was third in 54.39 and Eagleton, fourth in 55.04.

Spaans wasn't only a standout in the relays, she won three individual titles and was part of six titles overall. She claimed the win in the 400 IM in 4:43.56 with Kennedy taking third in 4:46.04. Spaans won the 200 backstroke in 2:11.87 with Zanto taking third in 2:16.04.  And, Spaans won the 200 IM in 2:11.93 while Kennedy was second in 2:15.79 with Keelin O'Connor, third, in 2:17.61.

Kasch picked up three individual wins which included the 50 breast in 30.80. Ford was third in the same event in 31.69. Kasch also won the 200 breast in 2:22.74 while Ford was second in 2:30.74. And, she also won the 100 breast with a clocking of 1:05.02.

Also picking up wins for USF was Gigi Bario in the 50 back in 28.20. In that race, USF also had three others in the top six with Krahn, third, 28.43; Zanto, fourth, 28.81 and O'Connor, sixth, 29.18.

Julia Zanto won the 100 back in 1:01.94 and Childs finished fourth at 1:03.25. Also for USF, Marcon was second in the 500 free in 5:19.29 with Kennedy, fourth at 5:21.96. Marcon took third in the 200 free. USF had a second place finish from Nina Groene in the 1,650 free in 18:14.92 with Alex Sanchez-Clark, fifth, in 18:29.65. MaKenzy Kennedy also took third in the 1,000 free in 10.57.55 with Sanchez Clark, fifth in 11:06.81.

Next for USF Swimming will be competing at the Midwest Shootout on Oct. 12 in Omaha, Neb.