SIOUX FALLS – With six titles, the University of Sioux Falls Swimming Team (10-3) had a strong start at the Coyote Quad Duals competition which opened on Friday night at the Midco Aquatic Center. The meet will conclude tomorrow with competition starting at 10 am. Click here for heat sheets.
Overall, USF had six first place finishes, one relay and five individual titles. The Cougars had 11 swimmers/relay teams finish in the top three throughout the day, as well as 19 top eight finishes. USF finished 2-2 after the dual scoring was completed on day 1. The Cougars defeated Iowa Central, 154-5; Augustana, 124-71; and lost to DI University of South Dakota, 130-106; and South Dakota State, 137-97. As a result, USF has won 20 straight non DI matches and 19 straight duals at the DII level.
USF Swimming Team Head Coach
Chris Hamstra was very pleased with his team's effort on the first day of the competition.
"I'm blown away with how well we swam tonight," said Hamstra. "I can't wait to see what we can do tomorrow."
USF was led by several individuals who won two titles, either individually or on a relay. The reigning NSIC Swimmer of the Week
Jenna Krahn won the 50 free (24.19) for her 10
th individual title of the season. An All-American a year ago, Krahn has 15 overall titles this year with the relay win in the 400 medley relay (3:54.85), which included freshman
Domenica Solano,
Valerie Childs and
Chantal Kasch. She was also part of USF's second place 200-yard free relay, which clocked 1:37.99. Krahn was joined on the team by Solano,
Tori Bailey and Childs.
Childs also picked up a win in the 200 free in 1:55.12 as she has 11 overall titles this year and six individually. She finished the day with two titles (400 medley relay) and a second-place finish as part of the 200 free relay.
All-American junior
Elizabeth Spaans captured two individual titles and has five on the season. She took first place in the 200 IM (2:09.38) as well as the 100 back (57.77).
Solano finishing first in the 100 fly with a time of 58.18 and with her relay win in the 400 medley now has seven individual titles this season and 12 overall (five relays). Sophomore
Makenzy Kennedy made it a 1-2 USF finish by finishing second in that 100 fly of 58.47.
All-American
Chantal Kasch had a solid performance in the 100 breast by clocking 1:06.73 which was just .13 from first place.
Also on Friday, senior
Evelyn VanDeMark was third in the 100 free (11:00.18) and freshman
Ilinde du Plessis finished third in the 200 free (1:56.49). Demarquet also placed fifth in the 100 free with a clocking of 55.03 while Bailey was seventh in the same race with a time of 55.66. Freshman
Paulina Ruelas was sixth in the 100 back and fifth in the 200 IM
Aside from Krahn in the 50 free,
Sydnie Saddoris was seventh in 25.62 while
Abigail Ford was sixth in the 500 free at 5:23.77.
Also in the 400 medley, USF placed sixth in 4:04.24 with a team of Du Plessis, Ford, sophomore
Ursula Demarquet, and freshman
Kaylee Tringali. USF was sixth (1:44.59) in the 200 free relay with a squad of Van De Mark,
Keelin O'Connor, Kennedy and
Giulia Fazza Marcon.
After tomorrow, USF will have just two meets left, the NSIC Conference Championships in Fargo, ND (Feb. 10 - Feb. 13) and the NCAA Championships in Birmingham, Ala. (Mar. 17 - Mar. 20).
