SIOUX FALLS -- The University of Sioux Falls Swimming Team, which has finished third in the NSIC three straight years and was top-15 (CSCAA) ranked a year ago, is gearing up to get back into the water this upcoming Saturday, January 9, at Northern State in Aberdeen.

USF will face NSU in a dual meet to open the season. The Cougars own a 4-0 series mark against the Wolves with the most recent dual win a 128-73 verdict at the Midco Aquatic Center a year ago.

The Cougars, who were selected to finish third in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll, are looking to start the 2021 season strong with returning All-Americans Chantal Kasch, Jenna Krahn, and Elizabeth Spaans leading the way. 

After a season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, Chris Hamstra, the USF Swimming Team Head Coach, said his team is ready to get back into the competitive waters. 

"We are excited to just do some racing," said Hamstra. "We are ready to get our competitive season started!"

A year ago at the NSIC Meet, USF put together its best performance by finishing third with 797 points, 192 more than in 2018-2019. 

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. 

Now in their fifth year as a program, the Cougars have tasted success and are looking to expand on that even more in their future seasons. In the 2019-2020 season, the Cougars were ranked No. 15 nationally, going 8-0 in their dual season for the first time. They also had four student-athletes (Kasch, Krahn, Spaans, and Ella Johnson) earn All-American honors before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the national championships. 

With the momentum of the unbeaten regular season in duals, national ranking, and top-three placing at the NSIC Championships, the Cougars head into the 2021 season with high expectations. They are a veteran team with strong senior leadership, including senior Chantal Kasch, who was recognized as an NSIC Athlete to Watch. She and Jenna Krahn are among 10 seniors -- nearly all who scored points at the NSIC Meet. At the NSIC Meet, the Cougars had eight individual or relay champions with 12 DII provisional marks and 34 All-NSIC performers. Add in a talented group of newcomers and a strong group of sophomores and juniors, including All-American Lizzie Spaans, and the Cougars should again be a team on the move. 

Nina Groene, another returning senior standout for the Cougars, competed in four events at the 2020 NSIC Championships. She collected a 3rd place finish in the 1650 Free (17:26.25) and 6th place finishes in both the 500 Free (5:07.88) and the 1000 Free (10:34.55). Groene, a Mannheim, Germany native, was also named to NSIC Academic Team of Excellence, the NSIC All-Academic Team, and was a D2 ADA Academic Achievement Recipient in the 2019-2020 season. 

Ursula Demarquet, a sophomore on the team from Guayaquil, Ecuador, had a great freshman season and is looking to be an asset for the Cougars this upcoming season. At the 2020 NSIC Championships, Demarquet recorded her first win at USF with a 24.05 time in the 50 Free and also placed 8th in the 100 Free (52.97). 

Domenica Solano, an incoming freshman on the team, has very high expectations for a great first season, coming to USF with 16 national records in Ecuador. Solano was a member of the Select Team of Ecuador (national team) and is a standout swimmer in the backstroke, fly, and individual medley. 

For the 2021 season, the Cougars are gearing up to face a competitive schedule line up, including meets against Augustana (Jan. 15), Nebraska-Omaha (Jan. 23), and the Coyote Invite (Jan. 29-30). The NSIC Intercollegiate Conference Championships are set for Feb.10 - Feb.13, with location still to be determined, while the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships are set for Mar. 17 - Mar. 20 in Birmingham, AL.