INDIANAPOLIS -- The University of Sioux Falls Swimming Team has two selected swimmers and four others who participate as relay-only competitors for the NCAA DII Swimming and Diving Championships which will be held March 13-16 at the IU Natorium on the campus of IUPUI.

Sophomore All-American Cassie Wright, who was named the "Swimmer of the Meet at the NSIC Swimming and Diving Championships on Feb. 13-16, and freshman Ella Johnson will both compete in individual events. Wright and Johnson, along with while sophomore Guilia Marcon, sophomore Chantal Kasch, freshman Elizabeth Spaans and sophomore Jenna Krahn will compete on the three relays that have qualified for nationals. USF will compete and send at least five student-athletes at the NCAA DII Championships for a third straight year.

Directed by first-year head coach Chris Hamstra, USF put together a 5-2 dual record and finished third at the NSIC Swimming and Diving Championships for a second straight year. All of USF's national marks individually and on relays were clocked at the NSIC Championships, which was held at USF's home pool, the Midco Aquatic Center in Sioux Falls. In rallying to take third place, the Cougars broke four NSIC meet records, recorded seven NCAA 'B' cuts, one NCAA 'A' cut (Wright, 100 back), set five school records and six swimmers posted personal-best results. Wright broke the meet records in all three of her individual races. A year ago, USF had a program-best 51 points at NCAA DII Championships and registered a 21^st place finish, which was the highest among NSIC schools.

Wright has for qualified for the DII nationals in the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 50 freestyle and will also swim as a member of all three relays that qualified. Wright is ranked in the top eight in two of the events. She clocked a meet record of 53:70 in 100 backstroke at the NSIC Swimming and Diving Championships which ranks her third in DII at 53.70 and just four-hundreds from second. A year ago, Wright became USF's first-ever All-American with her third place finish of 53.44 at the 2018 nationals. Wright is seeded eighth in the 50 free with a clocking of 23.12 (NSIC Swimming and Diving Championships). Wright is ranked 11^th in the 200 backstroke after clocking a 1:59.75 at the NSIC Swimming and Diving Championships, which set a meet record. A year ago Wright was second in the 200 backstroke at nationals with a 1:57.59 clocking as she earned her second All-American honor after being seeded 26^th entering the nationals a year ago.

Johnson qualified in both the 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly and will also be part of two relay squads. She ranks 12^th in the 100 butterfly with a clocking of 55:02 after setting a school and conference record. Johnson is ranked fifth in the 200 butterfly with a 1:59.83 clocking at the NSIC Championships, which set a school record.

USF's 200 medley relay is ranked 20^th with a 1:43.53 clocking and includes team members Wright, Kasch, Johnson and Krahn.  

In the 400 medley relay, USF, which set an NSIC Championships record in winning the event, will be seeded ninth with a 3:44.31 clocking. The relay team will consist of Wright, Kasch, Johnson and Marcon.

The Cougars 200 freestyle relay is ranked 17^th with a time of 1:33.92 and the squad will consist of Wright, Krahn, Marcon and Spaans.