SIOUX FALLS – Six members of the University of Sioux Falls Swimming Team will compete in the NCAA DII Swimming and Diving Championships, which will be held March 13-16 at the IU Natorium on the campus of IUPUI. Cassie Wright and Ella Johnson will participate in individual events, while both will join other four other USF swimmers in relay only events.
 
A year ago, USF had a program-best 51 points at NCAA DII Championships and registered a 21st place finish, which was the highest among NSIC schools. After a third place finish at the NSIC Championships, head coach Chris Hamstra and his team is focused on bettering the finish from a year ago. In the 2018 NCAA Championships, Wright claimed two All-American honors in the 100 and 200 back. Wright took third in the 100 back to become the first All-American swimmer in USF program history. The next day, Wright took second in the 200 back for her second All-American result.
 
"We are excited about the opportunity in front of us this week," said Hamstra, a first-year coach at USF. "Our team has performed at a high level all season. I think they are ready to step it up at nationals."
 
For a live link to the NCAA DII Swimming and Diving Championships, click HERE.

USF competing Athletes
Sophomore All-American 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 Giulia 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.
 
Wright will compete in 100 and 200 backstroke and 50 free as well as relays
Wright, a two-time All-American, will compete at 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 11th 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 26th entering the nationals a year ago. Wright will compete in the 50 free on Wednesday (March 13), the 100 back on Friday (March 15), and the 200 back on Saturday (March 16).
 
Johnson will compete in 100 & 200 butterfly and part of two relays
A freshman from Southport, England, Johnson will compete in both the 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly and will also be part of two relay squads. As she seeks her first All-American honor, she is ranked 12th 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. Johnson will compete in the 100 fly on Thursday, March 14, as well as the 200 fly on Friday (March, 15).
 
USF qualifies three relays for nationals
USF's 200 medley relay is ranked 20th with a 1:43.53 clocking and includes team members Wright, Kasch, Johnson and Krahn. The 200 medley relay will compete on Wednesday, March 13.
 
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 and will compete on Thursday, March 14.
 
The Cougars 200 freestyle relay is ranked 17th with a time of 1:33.92 and the squad will consist of Wright, Krahn, Marcon and Spaans. The 200 free relay will compete on Thursday, March 14.
 
 
USF took third at NSIC Championships for second 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.
 
Schedule of Events
Wednesday, March 13 (Prelims 9:00 a.m./Finals 5:00 p.m.)
50 freestyle, 200 medley relay
 
Thursday, March 14 (Prelims 9:00 a.m./Finals 5:00 p.m.)
200 freestyle relay, 100 fly, 400 medley relay
 
Friday, March 15 (Prelims 9:00 a.m./Finals 5:00 p.m.)
100 back, 200 fly
 
Saturday, March 16 (Prelims 9:00 a.m./Finals 5:00 p.m.)
200 back