BISMARCK, N.D. -- Led by a record-breaking performance in the 800-free relay and three individual titles (Elizabeth Spaans, 100 back; Ella Johnson, 200 fly; Chantal Kasch, 100 breast), the University of Sioux Falls Swimming Team won four event titles and moved into second place in the team standings in an impressive performance in finals on Friday night at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Swimming and Diving Championships.

With the performance today, USF has won seven overall titles (five individual and two relays) at the NSIC championships. As a result, USF moved into second place in the team standings with 579 points and cut first place SCSU's lead to just 16 points. USF is just 26 points away from matching their total of a year ago (605.5 team points).  SCSU leads in team points with 595 which is 16 more than USF and ahead of third place Minnesota State with 559. In fourth place in the standings is Augustana at 457 which is followed by host school U-Mary at 315 and then MSUM, 217; Northern State. 124 and SMSU, 78.

"It was a very, very exciting night," said USF Head Coach Chris Hamstra. "In a four-day championship like this, the Friday night finals is one of the toughest for teams as they prepare for the final day on Saturday. But this team and this group stepped up big time. Our team went out there and did a great job," said Hamstra, who directed his team to a third place team finish a year ago in the program's third year.

"Evelyn (VanDeMark) and Nina (Groene) held their spots in the 500 free and then we had those four straight winning performances which included dominant performances from Lizzie (Spaans) and Ella (Johnson) plus an amazing swim by Chantal (Kasch). Add in the performance by the two squads in the 800 free relay and it was a great night. We have closed the gap a bit in the team points but tomorrow will be another big day but we will have an opportunity and that is all you can ask," he said.  

After USF won three straight individual titles, the 800 free relay, which was ranked 11^th in the country, came through with a record-breaking performance. The squad of Valerie Childs, Evelyn VanDeMark, Giulia Fazza Marcon and Ella Johnson clocked a 7:35.36 and won the competition by nearly six seconds. They broke the NSIC record of 7:37.47 which was set by Minnesota State in 2018. In addition, USF's extraordinary depth showed as they placed sixth in the relay with a "B" squad of freshman Ursula Demarquet, senior Leah Eagleton, junior Nina Groene and freshman Makenzy Kennedy, which clocked a time of 7:45.98. In the meet so far, USF has placed two teams in the top eight of the four contested relays and has finished first twice and second twice.

For the second time at championships, sophomore Elizabeth Spaans, who won the 200 IM (2:05.47) on Wednesday, captured an individual title after claiming the 100 back crown by clocking an NCAA "B" standard of 55.81. Spaans, a sophomore from Brandon, S.D., now has two individual titles and was part of the winning 400 medley relay, which clocked an NCAA DII provisional time (3:45.27).   In the 100 back "B" final, junior Gigi Bario (58.87) was 3rd (11th overall) and senior Julia Zanto (1:00.10) 6th (14th overall) as the Cougars added important points to the team standings.

After finishing second a year ago (1:03.62, prelims), junior Chantal Kasch earned her first NSIC individual title by swimming an NCAA "B" standard with a clocking of 1:02.30 to win the 100 Breast. The clocking for Kasch was better than 90 seconds than her time of a year ago. Kasch won her second overall title as she was also part of the 400 medley relay on Thursday night.

Like Spaans, sophomore Ella Johnson earned her second individual title with a victory in 200 fly with NCAA "B" standard of 2:01.61. A year ago, Johnson had the top prelim time in the 200 back but was edged out in the finals. Johnson, who won the 100 back on Thursday, dominated tonight and won by more than six seconds. As a result, Johnson now has four overall titles with two individual crowns and as  a member of the winning 400 medley and 800 free relays. Aside from Johnson, USF dominated the 200 event overall as freshman Makenzy Kennedy (2:08.26) placed 3rd and freshman Valerie Childs (2:09.03) was fifth. Kennedy now has two second place finishes and a third place result.

Also for USF, the Cougars had two top-six finishes in the 500 free. Junior Evelyn VanDeMark clocked a 5:07.40 for fifth while junior Nina Groene was sixth in 5:07.88.

The final day of  the NSIC Championships begins with 10 am trials with finals at 5:30 pm on Saturday, Feb. 16.