SIOUX FALLS -- The No. 8/14 University of Sioux Falls Swimming Team, which has won 44 individual or relay events across three competitions, has opened the season with a 6-0 dual record and impressive performances in three straight competitions. On Saturday, USF will look to continue its impressive start to the season as they host DII Nebraska-Omaha at 10 am on Saturday at the Midco Aquatic Center. The meet will be streamed live.

USF, directed by second-year head coach Chris Hamstra, has opened 6-0 in dual competitions and had a strong performance at the Midwest Shootout on Oct. 12 which was hosted by DI Nebraska-Omaha in Omaha, Neb. Following that performance USF was ranked No. 14 and earned its highest ranking in school history in the CSCAA/TYR Top 25 Division II Preseason Poll, which was released Oct. 14. In that poll, USF, which was picked third in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll, was the highest ranked program from the NSIC. USF has also been ranked No. 9 by CollegeSwimming.com in their ranking of the top DII programs by dual meet strength.

Already this fall, both USF sophomore Ella Johnson and junior Jenna Krahn have been named NSIC Swimmers of the Week. Johnson, who has three fly times that rank in the top 10 nationally, including the top 200 fly time of 2:02.00, was honored after accounting for seven individual or relay wins during the quad dual in Bismarck on Oct. 5. In three competitions, the All-American has 16 individual or relay wins. 

Krahn was honored by league after she had an NCAA "B" standard, won the 100 free and was a major contributor in three relays as the Cougars rolled to dual meet victories over Minnesota State, MSU Moorhead and Augustana on Oct. 25-26. In the 100 free, Krahn recorded a victory in 52.29 at the Quad Dual Meet. She led off the winning 200 free relay with her NCAA "B" cut of 24.0 (50 free) and helped USF win in 1:36.97 which is the fifth best clocking in NCAA DII. In addition, the junior standout was second in the 50 free in 24.16 as she led a continent of four USF placers in the top eight. She helped the 200 medley relay to a second place finish in 1:47.12. In the 400 free relay, she was part of a team that won a title in 3:34.11.

USF has 16 individual and five relays ranked in top-25 nationally

With the strong early season performance, USF have a number of individuals and relay squads ranked in the top-25 nationally. USF has 16 individual performances ranked in the DII top 25 with five in the top 10. In addition, USF has five relays in the top 25 led by the 800 free relay which ranks No. 2 in NCAA DII.

With a clocking of 7:54.57, the Cougars 800 free relay squad of Elizabeth Spaans, Guilia Marcon, Leah Eagleton and Johnson is .47 behind the national leader Indy at 7:54.10. USF's 400 medley relay of Spaans, Johnson, Kasch and Marcon is 11th in DII and second in the NSIC with a clocking of 3:52.87.

The Cougars sit 11th in DII and first in the NSIC in the 400 free relay with a clocking of 3:34.11. The relay includes Ursula Demarquet, Spaans, Johnson and Jenna Krahn. In addition, USF is 12th nationally and second in the NSIC with a 200 medley relay clocking of 1:47.12. The relay consists of Spaans, Johnson, Kasch and Krahn.

In the 200 free, USF ranks first in the NSIC and sixth in DII with a clocking of 1:36.97. The team included Krahn, Demarquet, Marcon and Spaans.

In total, Johnson, who earned honorable mention individual honors in the 200 back at the NCAA DII nationals and was part of an All-American relay, is part of six events, individual or relay, which ranks in the top-25 nationally. Aside from the relays, she is ranked first in DII in the 200 fly at 2:02.00 with an NCAA "B" cut and fourth nationally in the 50 fly with a clocking of 26.31. She is also seventh in DII and first in the NSIC in the 100 fly with her clocking of 56.05.

Kasch is ranked in three individual and five overall events (two relays) in DII.  She is second nationally and first in the NSIC in the 50 breast with a clocking of 30.80. In the 100 breast, Kasch ranks 11th nationally and first in the NSIC with a clocking of 1:05.02. She is also seventh in DII and first in the NSIC in the 200 breast with a time of 2:19.99.

Krahn is ranked in the top 25 in three individual events which includes 18th in the 50 free in 24.00; 14th in the 100 free in 52.29. She also has a "B" cut in the 50 free.

In the 50 back, Spaans, who is part of four nationally ranked relay squads, is 22nd in DII and first in the NSIC with her clocking of 27.36.  She is 19th in the 100 back in 57.95, which is first in the NSIC.

The Cougars have two individuals in the top 25 nationally in the 1650 free as Nina Groene is 17th and third in the NSIC with her 18:14.02 clocking. Alex Sanchez Clark is 24th in DII with a 18:29.65.

Freshman Abigail Ford is ranked 14th in DII and fourth in the NSIC in the 50 breast with a 31.69 clocking.  

Season Review – Cougars dominate at Quad Dual in Bismarck
 Led by Johnson, Spaans, Jenna and Kasch, USF defeated U-Mary, 303-119; Northern State, 329-78 and Augustana, 267-141, at the Quad Dual hosted by U-Mary on Oct. 5. 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.

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.   

Cougars win eight events in Omaha
USF had an impressive showing winning eight of 12 swimming events at the Midwest Shootout which was hosted by the University of Nebraska-Omaha on Saturday (Oct. 12).

The Cougars picked up three wins individually from Spaans, Johnson and Demarquet among the standout efforts. Spaans won the 200 IM in 2:11.81 and was part of two winning relays. She swam on the winning 200 medley relay that finished in 1:49.95. Johnson, Marcon and Kasch also swam on the relay. USF also took third (Krahn, Ford, Childs and Eagleton) and fifth (Zanto, Sydnie Saddoris, Kennedy and Tori Bailey) in the relay.

Cougars earn second sweep of the season in rolling to three dual wins at first home meet of the season
Juniors Chantal Kasch and Jenna Krahn recorded NCAA "B" cuts to lead an impressive opening day performance by the No. 14 University of Sioux Falls Swimming Team at a quad dual competition at the Midco Aquatic Center on Friday. The second day of the quad dual will begin at 11 a.m., Saturday.

Aside from the "B" cuts, USF registered six wins in nine individual or relay events at the quad dual which included USF, Augustana, Minnesota State and MSU Moorhead. The dual competition will wrap up tomorrow and the partial scores show USF with substantial leads over Minnesota State, 107-73; Augustana, 126-41; and MSUM, 131-45.  

Kasch had a big day with an individual win and was part of the winning 400 medley relay.  In the 200 breast, Kasch had her NCAA "B" cut in which she clocked a 2:19.99 to win the event. Krahn led off the winning 200 free relay with her NCAA "B" cut of 24.0 (50 free) and helped USF win in 1:36.97. The rest of the relay included Demarquet, Marcon and Spaans.