SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – With the careers of four seniors winding down, Giulia Fazza Marcon, Sydnie Saddoris, Elizabeth Spaans, and Samantha Mullvain of the University of Sioux Falls Swimming Team are focused on a strong finish after experiencing four years measured in resiliency, hard work and a lot of success.

These seniors have had careers unlike most others, including navigating the COVID-19 pandemic last season.  Yet, despite challenges of testing, managing academics and competing, these four seniors have put their best feet forward, by showing exceptional leadership both in the water and in the classroom. This group of impactful seniors have helped USF to three straight third place finishes in the NSIC Championships and part of a team that has been nationally ranked, and an CSCAA Scholar All-American Team each of their years on campus.

USF Head Swimming Coach Chris Hamstra is thankful for the leadership the seniors have shown as they've helped the underclassmen learn what it means to be a collegiate swimmer. 

"The impact they have can definitely be felt," said Hamstra. "Coming off a different year than usual, the seniors have really helped the underclassmen and new freshman adjust to a normal season. They're all so positive and uplifting because they've been through what the younger swimmers are going through," he said.
 
Giulia Fazza Marcon, hailing from Juiz de Fora, Brazil has been an integral member of the USF Swim Team in her time here, from setting school records to leading her team to countless meet victories over the years. 
 

In her freshman year, Marcon competed in four events at the 2018 NSIC Championships, including the 50 Y Free (7^th place, 23.73), 100 Y Free (7^th place, 52.02), 200 Y Free (2^nd Place, 1:50.28), and the 500 Y Free (2^nd place, 4:59.02). From there, she competed at the 2018 NCAA DII Championships, where she placed 42^ndin the 50 Y Free (23.81), 49^th in the 100 Y Free (52.03), 21^st in the 200 Y Free (1:51.22), and 38^th in the 500 Y Free (5:03.84). Marcon was also named a Scholar All-America athlete in 2018.
 
In her sophomore year, Marcon competed at the 2019 NSIC Championships, placing second in the 50 Y Free Final (23.82), third in the 200 Y Free (1:52.47), sixth in the 100 Y Free (52.15), and 10th in the 500 Y Free (5:07.58). She was also named to the NSIC Academic Team of Excellence and to the NSIC All-Academic Team, as well as selected as a CSCAA Scholar All-American. 
 
Marcon's junior year saw her at the 2020 NSIC Championships, she placed 7th in the 200 Y Free (1:54.23). She was also named to NSIC Academic Team of Excellence and the NSIC All-Academic Team for the second year in a row, as well as a D2 ADA Academic Achievement Recipient. 

"I have so many memories from my time on the team that I treasure, but my favorite moments were going through the hardships with my best friends," said Marcon. "Being able to cry, laugh, and smile all together has been worth it."
 
Sydnie Saddoris is an exercise science major who has brought countless smiles and endless laughs to the USF Swim Team. The daughter of James and Susan Saddoris, Sydnie is the glue of her team who always brings a positive attitude and never fails to brighten everyone's day. 
 
Her freshman year, Saddoris placed fourth in the 200 Y Free (2:01.91) against MSU Moorhead. At the 2018 NSIC Championships, Saddoris

competed in three events and helped lead her team to a third place team finish. 
 
The 2018-2019 season was Saddoris' sophomore season, where she achieved her first win at USF when she swam a 1:47.07 in the 100 Y Breast against Iowa Lakes. She also competed in four events at the 2019 NSIC Championships in helping her team to a 3^rd place finish. 
 
Her junior year, Saddoris competed in four events at the 2020 NSIC Championships and several a year ago when USF finished third as a team for a fourth straight year.

"I chose USF originally because of the close-knit community, both on the team and on campus," said Saddoris. "I have so many good memories from my time here, it's impossible to pick just one favorite. But, through a lot of my toughest moments in life, the team has been there for me and they've also been there for the best times." 
 
Elizabeth Spaans, a Brandon, S.D. native, has been another priceless addition to the USF Swim Team. Since her freshman year, Spaans has continued to grow and succeed, setting a few school records and picking up multiple wins for her team over the years. A 2020 All-American in swimming, who has earned three Academic All-NSIC honors, Spaans  has qualified to compete at DII Nationals twice. A year ago, she had a clocking of 56.51 in the 100 back and finished 18^th at the NCAA DII Swimming Championships.

In 2021, Spaans helped USF to a fourth straight third place team finish at the NSIC Championships by winning two individual titles at and as part of the winning 400 medley relay and a second-place 800 free relay at had a clocking of 56.51 in the 100 back and finished 18^th at the NCAA DII Swimming Championships. A two-time NSIC Academic Team of Excellence and NSIC All-Academic Team honoree, she has seven career NSIC titles (team or individual), was named a CSCAA All-American in 2020 and and an D2 ADA Academic Achievement Recipient in 2019 and 2020. 

Spaans' freshman year was a fast start for her success, with multiple first place finishes throughout the season and four events at the 2019 NSIC Championships. At the Championships, Spaans placed third in the 200 Y IM (2:06.51), fifth in the 100 Y Back (56.89), and fifth in the 100 Y IM (58.55). Spaans was also named a Scholar All-America athlete.
 
In her sophomore year, Spaans' success continued grow, with multiple more regular season wins. At the 2020 NSIC Championships, she won both the 100 Y Back (55.81) and the 200 Y IM (2:05.47), while placing second in the 50 Y Free (24.54) and also taking third in both the 200 Y Back (2:05.09) and the 100 Y IM (58.62). From there, Spaans competed at the 2020 NCAA DII Championship, where she placed 36th in the 200 Y IM (2:06.91) while also competing in the 50 Y Back and 100 Y Back.  

Her junior year brought more success from Spaans, who was part of a nationally ranked team.  Spaans helped USF to a fourth straight third place finish at the 2021 NSIC Championships by winning and defending her individual titles in the 200 IM and 100 back. She was also a part of the winning 400 medley relay and a second place 800 free relay. Spaans registered two NCAA DII provisional marks at the NSIC Championships, and in her final performance of the 2021 season, she clocked 56.51 in the 100 back and finished 18^th at the NCAA DII Swimming Championships. She was also named to the NSIC All-Academic Team and also to the prestigious NSIC Academic Team of Excellence (GPA of 3.6 or better). She wrapped up the season with being named to the CoSIDA Academic At-Large All-District VII. 

"Some of my favorite memories are the constant encouragement that the team has given me over the years," said Spaans. "They pick me up and we all pick up each other through the hard times." 
 
Samantha Mullvain, a Duluth, Minn. native, is the fourth and final senior on the USF Swim Team. Since joining the Cougar squad, Mullvain, a biology/pre-med major, has been a leader and role model for her team over the years.
 

In the 2020-2021 season, despite all the challenges student-athletes face, Mullvain worked hard and was named a member of the NSIC Academic Team of Excellence. She also received the DII Academic Achievement Award for her success in the classroom. In the pool, Mullvain swam career-best times in three events: 200Y Free (2:11.64), 1000Y Free (12:50.46), and the 100Y IM (1:11.63). 

"The connections I have made here at USF is what has truly made my experience wonderful," said Mullvain. "Some of my best memories come simply from the conversations with my lane mates in between sets and from spending time with my teammates and friends. I am so grateful for the people here at USF and I am really going to miss them after I graduate."

While their time on the USF Swim Team is coming to a close, these four seniors have made lasting connections with their teammates that are sure to carry on into the future. They have spent countless hours in the pool, as well in the classroom, working to learn, grow, and be ready to face the real world when their time here has concluded. 

"Getting to watch these ladies grow and become adults and know that when they leave USF they're going to make a big difference in the world around them, it's really exciting," said Hamstra.