2017-18 NSIC Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll

10/5/2017 10:00:05 AM

For Immediate Release
Thursday, October 5, 2017
NSIC Media Relations
PDF Release
 
BURNSVILLE, Minn. -  St. Cloud State University was again the pick by the league coaches in the annual NSIC Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches’ Poll.  The Huskies received five first place votes and amassed 35 points, three points ahead of Minnesota State.  The Mavericks received two first place votes in the poll to amass 32 points. 

Northern State's Hannah Kastigar repeated as the NSIC Preseason Swimmer of the Year while St. Cloud State's Britin Thomsen  repeated at NSIC Preseason Diver of the Year. 

The NSIC sponsored women’s swimming and diving during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years with the aid of affiliated members. During the 2016-17 season, NSIC Swimming and Diving returned as St. Cloud State won its third championship. 

The NSIC Swimming and Diving season will get underway this weekend with the season culminating at the NSIC Swimming & Diving Championship on February 13-17, 2018 at the West Fargo Aquatic Center in Fargo, North Dakota.
 
NSIC Preseason Swimming & Diving Coaches’ Poll
Team Points
1. St. Cloud State (5) 35
2. Minnesota State (2) 32
3. MSU Moorhead 26
4. Sioux Falls 19
5. Northern State 15
6. Augustana  14
7. University of Mary 6
first place votes in ( ) 
 
7267
Hannah Kastigar
(IM/Fly/Back, Sr., Aberdeen, S.D. / Central HS / Grand Canyon)
Northern State University
- Captured 13 NSU swimming records in her first season with the program
- Was awarded NSIC Swimmer of the Week eight times last season
- Crowned NSIC Newcomer of the Year and NSIC Swimmer of the year in 2016-17
- Finished out the year as a four-time All-American
- Was NCAA DII National Champion in the 400 yard IM and the 200 yard butterfly
- Earns NSIC Preseason Swimmer of the Year honor for second consecutive season
7268
Britin Thomsen
(Diving, Jr., New Prague, Minn. / New Prague HS)
St. Cloud State University
- 2016 and 2017 NCAA DII Championship Qualifier
- 2017 NSIC All-Conference Performer
- NSIC Diver of the Year in 2017
- NSIC champion in the 3M event in 2017
- Placed third at the NSIC championships in the 1M event in 2017
- Hit scores of 415.15 in the 3M event and 433.10 in the 1M event in 2017 at the NSIC Championships
- Earns NSIC Preseason Diver of the Year honor for second consecutive season

TEAM NOTES
 
Augustana University Vikings
Team Preview
In the second year of the program, the Augustana women’s swimming team is looking to build on their fifth-place finish at the 2017 NSIC Championships. The Vikings are returning freshman of the year in Emma Miller and several NSIC top eight swimmers. With a strong incoming freshman class, Augustana is looking to make strides towards the 2018 NCAA Championships. Miller earned All-NSIC honors in the 1,000 and 1,650-yard freestyle. She was the NSIC Champion in the 1,000-yard freestyle with an Augustana freshman record and NCAA B-cut time of 10:26.85. The Papillion, Neb. native also set a freshman record and was the NSIC Champion in the 1,650-yard freestyle with an NCAA B-cut time of 17:34.24. Continuing to have an outstanding freshman campaign, she set another freshman record of 5:06.03 in the 500-yard freestyle with a fourth place finish at the NSIC Championship. Kelsey Gilbert is an incoming freshman to watch as earned all-state as a sophomore in 2014-15 after earning first team all-conference honors.  She was also a division I state qualifier in the 200 and 500-freestyle as a sophomore and a member of her conference championship team as a freshman, qualifying for state in the 200 and 500-yard freestyle.
Athlete to Watch
Kelsey Gilbert (Free/IM/Fly, Fr., Clarkston, Mich. / Clarkston HS)
First Meet
Friday Oct. 6 at Northern State/U-Mary Triangular – Sioux Falls  
   
University of Mary
Team Preview
Entering the second year of swimming at the University of Mary, the Marauders look to take a big step forward under head coach Allan McCallum. UMary went 3-5 in head-to-head competition last year and placed seventh overall at the school’s first conference meet. With 11 new swimmers on the roster, the UMary squad has grown from 14 last year to 22 this season. A trio of sophomores return to lead a young group. Melissa Andrews made the NSIC finals in three events (500, 1,000 and 1,650 free) and took 9th in the 1,650.  Alyssa Boese placed fourth in the conference meet in the 200 butterfly and made the finals in four events (200 and 400 IM, 200 butterfly, 200 backstroke). Kate Murphy placed 7th in the 500 free and made three finals (200, 500 and 1,650 free). Several newcomers have a chance to make the proverbial splash for the Marauders program. Freshman Mary Williamson owns times in the 400 and mile freestyle that would place her towards the top of the Northern Sun marks last year. Additionally she is strong in the 500 and 1,000 freestyle. Finally, freshmen to watch this season are Luisa Garcia, Mackenzie Houston and Abbey Zajdzinski.
Athlete to Watch
Mary Williamson (500 and 1,000 free / 400 and mile IM, Fr., Fredrickburg, Va. / Mother of Divine Grace)
First Meet
Friday-Saturday, Oct. 6-7 vs. Northern State and Augustana in Sioux Falls, SD
 
Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks
Team Preview
The 2017-18 Minnesota State women’s swimming and diving team will consist of 36 student-athletes, including 21 returnees from last season’s squad and 13 incoming freshmen. Last year, the Mavericks posted their best finish at the NCAA Championships (13th place), and four of MSU’s five All-Americans from last season’s team including. Seniors Taylor Bass, Chelsea Calhoon and Cecilia Hake and sophomore Maggie Knier all received All-American honors for at least one event at the NCAA Championships. Hake claimed All-American honors from four events last season, including the 200-yard freestyle and the 400-yard freestyle relay events, the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke. Bass also received All-American honors for the 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle relay events. The Mavericks also finished in second place at the NSIC Championships last season and set three NSIC records in the 100-yard IM, the 100-yard freestyle and the 400-yard freestyle relay. Nine of MSU’s returnees received All-NSIC honors for their efforts last season. MSU won a total of nine events at the NSIC Championships last season, including four relay events. Sophomore Jaycie Klein finished first at the NSIC Championships in the 1-meter diving event, while Bass won both the 100-yard IM and the 200-yard butterfly. Klein was named the NSIC Diver of the Meet for her efforts.
Athletes to Watch
Cecilia Hake (Sprint Free/Backstroke, Sr., Faribault, Minn / Faribault HS)
Jaycie Klein (Diving, So., Davenport, Iowa / Muscatine HS)
First Meet
Friday, Oct. 6 vs. South Dakota – 5 p.m.
 
Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons
Team Preview
MSUM returns an experienced nucleus from a year ago with four of their top five points scorers returning. That is led by senior Erin Sullivan, who was a national qualifier in three events a year ago. Sullivan led the team with 19 wins and 688.50 points scored in 2016-17 and also was the NSIC Champion in the 100 and 200 backstroke. Junior Taylor Beynon was second on the team with 14 wins and 670.70 points scored last season, while sophomore Breah Anderson returns after recording 10 wins and 540.75 points a year ago. The top diver returning is Amber Westereng, who had three wins and scored 201 points last season.
Athletes to Watch
Erin Sullivan (Backstroke/IM, Sr., Coon Rapids, Minn. / Blaine HS)
Amber Westereng (Diving, Jr., Minot, N.D. / Minot HS)
First Meet
Friday, Oct. 13 at Northern State
Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons
Northern State University Wolves
Team Preview
Northern State returns in 2017-18 after a 5-9 record in 2016-17. The Wolves return 15 swimmers and add four newcomers this season. The Wolves tallied dual meet victories over U-Mary (209-52), Augustana (146-116), Minnesota Morris (214-79), U-Mary (192-67), and U-Mary again (72-23) in 2016-17. Hannah Kastigar was named both the NSIC Swimmer of the Year and the NSIC Swimmer of the Championships meet. From the Championships, Kastigar tallied 80 total points to lead the league. She also set meet records in the 200 IM (2:01.01), 400 IM (4:18.0), 100 fly (54.27), and 200 fly (1:58.9). She was the NSIC Champion in the 100 fly, 200 fly, 200 IM, 400 IM, and 800 free relay. Kastigar and Edda Skoric were the first Wolves in school history to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Kastigar swam in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 fly, and 200 fly, becoming the programs first All-American and totaling for honors from the meet. Skoric competed in the 200 back, qualifying with the 22nd fastest time in the nation. The freshman exceeded expectations and ultimately finished 11th overall in the event, moving up 11 places from her qualifying mark. In addition to the two individuals the Wolves also qualified the 800 free relay team of Kastigar, Skoric, Kayla Sproles, and Josie Gillund. With Skoric and Kastigar qualifying for the National Championships the Wolves 800 free relay was able to qualify after hitting the standard mark of 7:40.32 from the NSIC Championships. Nicole Monanian enters her first season as head coach of the Wolves after spending two seasons as the graduate assistant coach. Her first recruiting class consists of Gabby Becker (Aberdeen, S.D.), Madi Knutson (Bemidji, Minn.), Lexie Malimanek (Vermillion, S.D.), and Hazel Ohm (Watertown, S.D.). Northern will open the season on the road at the Augustana Triangular.
Athletes to Watch
Hannah Kastigar (IM/Fly/Back, Sr., Aberdeen, S.D. / Aberdeen Central HS / Grand Canyon)
First Meet
Friday, Oct. 6 at Augustana Triangular – 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 7 at Augustana Triangular - 10 a.m.
 
University of Sioux Falls Cougars
Team Preview
The University of Sioux Falls Swimming team enters their second year as a program in 2017-18 and looks to continue building the program for a return to the NCAA Championships. Last season, USF qualified five freshman for the NCAA Championships, earning spots with two individuals and three relay teams. At the NSIC Championships, the Cougars were edged for their first ever conference title in the 200 yard freestyle, losing by 0.01 second and Maike Doerr captured the first All-NSIC honor in program history by placing third in the 200 butterfly. Doerr returns with Brie Lavelle, Ingelin Lima and Kyjana Webber as national qualifiers. Lima and Webber both advanced to multiple individual A finals at the NSIC Championships and swam on three top-three relay squads. Entering his second season as head coach, Jon Maccoll added 20 student-athletes to the program’s roster, bringing more depth while expanding the talent pool. Redshirt freshman Leah Eagleton makes her middle distance debut after sitting out last season due to injury. USF’s swimmer to watch Cassie Wright joins Eagleton as a New Zealand native and will immediately make an impact in the backstroke and freestyle, in which she competed at the national level in her home country. Distance swimmers Alex Sanchez Clark and Nina Groene already helped the Cougars to a sixth-place finish at the CSCAA Open Water Nationals in September and will contend for distance event championships. Giulia Marcon and Gigi Barrio add to USF’s freestyle depth and Chantal Kasch brings in another high-level breaststroke.
Athlete to Watch
Cassie Wright (100/200 Back & 50/100 Free, Fr., Christ Church, NZ / Papanai HS)
First Meet
Saturday, Oct. 14 at Northern Iowa – 11 a.m.
 
St. Cloud State University Huskies
Team Preview
The St. Cloud State University women’s swim and dive team is poised to defend its NSIC championship in 2017-18.  The Huskies have won three consecutive NSIC titles (2017, 2014 and 2013) under the leadership of head coach Jeff Hegle, who begins his 17th season with the Huskies in 2017-18.  Senior Andrea Bryson will be a top returner for the Huskies after winning the NSIC title in the 200 and 500 freestyle last year.  NSIC Diver of the Year Britin Thomsen also returns for her junior season this winter.  Sophomore Ashley Wilson also returns to the roster after winning the NSIC 200 breaststroke title in 2017.  Bryson, Thomsen and Wilson all qualified for the NCAA meet in 2017.  Other SCSU NCAA qualifiers back in 2017-18 include sophomore Chelsea Gehrke (butterfly) and Lonie Anderson (diving).
Athletes to Watch
Andrea Bryson (Freestyle, Sr., Appleton, Wis. / North HS)
Britin Thomsen (1M/3M Diving, Jr., New Prague, Minn. / New Prague HS)
First Meet
Oct. 6-7 at UW-Green Bay




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