GENEVA, OHIO – On Wednesday (March 11), the No. 15-ranked University of Sioux Falls Swimming Team will look to continue a memory-making and history-setting 2019-20 season at the SPIRE Institute - Aquatics Center in Geneva, Ohio.

As the four members of the USF squad begin competition in individual and relay events at the NCAA DII Swimming and Diving Championships, they do so after leading the Cougars to its first-ever unbeaten dual season (8-0), a third-place finish – albeit record number of points (797) – at the NSIC Championships, numerous records and DII provisional marks, and national ranks from preseason to the last poll which placed them 15^th. (To follow USF Swimming, click here for links to NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships).

Spaans, Kasch, Johnson and Krahn will represent USF at nationals
And, when the release of the 2020 NCAA DII Championship invited list to compete at nationals came two weeks ago, the Cougars had a program-best four selected swimmers who have been invited to compete in six individual events along with the 200 and 400 medley relays for the NCAA DII Swimming and Diving Championships which will be run from March 11-14 at Geneva, Ohio.

 The national qualifying invited list included USF sophomores Ella Johnson and Elizabeth Spaans and juniors Jenna Krahn and Chantal Kasch. It spurred a lot of emotion which came clear through the words of second-year USF Head Coach Chris Hamstra.
 

"We are so excited and proud of our four individual invitees to the NCAA National Championships," said Hamstra, who team finished a program-best 20^th a year ago at the DII nationals and 21^st two years ago. "These four young women have worked very hard to make these invite times. We are continuing that hard work to represent USF with everything we have when the competition opens in a few weeks," added Hamstra, whose team had the most invited individuals from the NSIC.

On Wednesday, USF will compete in three events as Spaans will swim the 200 IM and Jenna Krahn will be in the 50 free. Spaans, Krahn along with Chantal Kasch and Ella Johnson will participate in the 200 medley relay. This relay is the first of four relays across four days USF will compete in.

USF makes impact at NSIC Championships
At the NSIC Championships, the Cougars, who had an unbeaten record in dual competitions for a first time in the four-year program's history, finished third for a third straight year but with a program best with 797 points or 192 more than a year ago (605.5, 2019).The Cougars, which had eight individuals or relays crowned champions at the 2020 NSIC Championships, finished third for a third consecutive year but with 797 points the team finished just 8.5 points from second place and Minnesota State at 805.5 points. They had 12 DII provisional marks and 34 All-NSIC performers.

Breaking it down by event

Johnson of Southport, England, was invited to compete in the 100 fly and 200 fly at nationals. A returning All-American, Johnson was invited to compete in individuals event at her second national meet. She ranks eighth in the 100 fly in 54.29. She is also ranked sixth in the 200 fly in 1:59.73. Aside from those two fly events, Johnson will swimm in the 100 free and as part of the 200 medley, 400 medley, 800 free and 400 free relays.

Kasch of Stade, Germany, was invited compete in two events which include the 100 breast and 200 breast. Heading into nationals, she is ranked 13^th in the 100 breast with a clocking of 1:02.10. Kasch is also 15^th-ranked in the 200 breast with a clocking of 2:16.43. Aside from those events, Kasch will swim on the 200 medley, 400 medley, 800 free and 400 free relays.

Spaans of Brandon, S.D., was invited to compete in the 100 backstroke. She is ranked 20^th in the event with a 55.55 clocking. She will also swim in the 200 IM, 200 back and on the 200 medley, 400 medley, 800 free and 400 free relays.
 

Krahn of Johnston, Iowa, will compete in the 50 free in which she is ranked 24^th with a time of 23.33. She will also swim in the 100 free and the 200 medley, 400 medley, 800 free and 400 free relays.

All four swimmers will compete in the 200 medley in which USF is ranked 16^th with a time of 1:43.02. The USF standouts will also be in the 400 medley relay competition after putting together the eighth best qualifying time of 3:43.37.

Here is a Day-by-Day Breakdown of events USF swimmers will compete in –
Wednesday, March 11
200 IM – Elizabeth Spaans
50 Free -- Jenna Krahn
200 medley relay: Spaans, Chantal Kasch, Ella Johnson, Krahn

Thursday, March 12
100 fly -- Ella Johnson
400 medley relay -- Spaans, Kasch, Johnson, Krahn

Friday, March 13
200 fly -- Johnson
100 back -- Spaans
100 breast -- Kasch
800 free relay -- Johnson, Spaans, Krahn, Kasch

Saturday, March 14
100 free -- Johnson & Krahn
200 back -- Spaans
200 Breast -- Kasch
400 free relay -- Krahn, Johnson, Kasch, Spaans