St. Cloud State & Minnesota State share top spot in NSIC Swimming & Diving Coaches' Poll

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Minnesota State University, Mankato and St. Cloud State University shared the top spot in the in the NSIC Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The two-time defending NSIC Champions of Minnesota State and St. Cloud State are the only two schools to win NSIC Championships in the leagues eight-year history. SCSU edged MSU in first place votes, 5-to-4 with both teams earning 60 points. Augustana was third with 51 points while Sioux Falls was fourth with 43.  

Minnesota State's Abby Gronholz was named the NSIC Preseason Swimmer of the Year while St. Cloud State's Meredith Matchinsky earned NSIC Preseason Diver of the Year honors. 

The NSIC sponsored women’s swimming and diving during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years with the aid of affiliated members. In 2016-17 season, NSIC Swimming and Diving returned as a seven team all NSIC sport. In 2019-20 the NSIC moved to eight participating members with the addition of Southwest Minnesota State and is now an nine-team league with the addition of Concordia-St. Paul in 2020-21.  

The NSIC Swimming and Diving season will get underway on Saturday, September 23 with the regular season culminating at the NSIC Swimming & Diving Championship on February 8-11, 2023 at the Hulbert Aquatic Center in West Fargo, North Dakota; hosted by the Minnesota State University Moorhead. 

• Earned three All-NSIC honors at the 2022 NSIC Championships as she finished first in the 200 medley relay, the 400 medley relay and the 100 backstroke events
• Took seventh place in the 200 backstroke event at the NSIC Championships
• Earned an All-American Honorable Mention at the 2022 NCAA Championships as she finished ninth in the 100 backstroke with a time of 54.98
• Earned All-American honors as a member of the MSU 200 medley relay team that finished eighth at the NCAA Championships

• Placed third in both 1 and 3-meter dives at the NSIC Championships last season
• Earned six All-NSIC honors in diving in her career
• Has placed fifth or higher in 1 and 3-meter dives each of the past three seasons at NSIC Championships
• Earned NCAA DII All-American & CSCAA Scholar All-American honors as a freshman

NSIC TEAM PREVIEWS & ATHLETES TO WATCH

AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY 

Augustana women’s swimming and diving is coming off a season in which they finished with a third-place finish in the NSIC Championships, the best in program history. The Vikings sent a pair of swimmers to the NCAA Championships including Nesrine Jelliti who returns as a sophomore in 2022-23. Head coach Lindsie Micko enters her seventh season at the helm of the Vikings swimming and diving program. Micko welcomes 15 newcomers to compete for the women’s team this year along with the two divers for Augustana. 

Augustana returns 26 swimmers and one diver this season from 2021. A highlighted returner for the Vikings is senior Kamryn Robarge. Robarge was a member of the 3rd place team at the NSIC Championship. She placed third in the 100 free swimming a NCAA 'B' Standard time of 51.59, earning All-NSIC honors last season. 

Kamryn Robarge (50/100/200/Free, 5th, Zimmerman, Minn. / Big Lake HS)

• Holds two NCAA ‘B’ Standard times of 23.33 in the 50 free and 51.59 in the 100 free, both of which are personal-best times during the NSIC Championships
• Set a personal best time in the 200 free (1:53.52) during the NSIC Championships
• Set personal-best time in the 100 fly during the Augustana Invite of 59.42 and the 500 Fly vs. Northern State of 5:25.39
• Member of the NSIC All-Academic Team

Clare Duplissis (1M/3M, Fr., Spring Lake, Mich. /  Grand Haven HS)

• Incoming freshman for Augustana in 2022-23
• Placed 8th and scored a 338.70 at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division I State Championship
• Scored 347 for highest 11 dive in the 1M dive
• Scored 243 for highest 6 dive in the 1M dive

CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, ST. PAUL 

The Golden Bears swimming and diving team is preparing to kickoff their third season as a program in the 2022-23 season. CSP looks to build off last season under second year head coach Rachel Busch, who made a significant impact during her first season leading the Golden Bears.

CSP returns the NSIC Freshman of the Year from a year ago Farida Maher, who is poised to have a big year two for the Golden Bears. She collected a school record of 16 first-place finishes. Earned All-NSIC honors at the NSIC Championship and four B-Cut times in the 200 and 500 freestyle.

A pair of swimmers return from the inaugural season with the program, now in its third year, with veteran swimmers Laura Vekony and Sydney Fleming, who were joined last year by impact newcomers Charly Horn and Sephanie De Leon who will enter their second seasons with the squad. The five key returners will be joined by four newcomers.

CSP will kickoff their 2022-23 season against Northern State and Southwest Minnesota State on September 23-24 at the Northern State Relay Meet. The Golden Bears will host their first-ever event on October 22 against Minnesota State and Southwest Minnesota State at Two Rivers Pool in Mendota Heights, Minnesota and add a second home meet head-to-head against Augsburg on January 21 in the team’s final meet before the NSIC Championships February 8-11 in West Fargo, North Dakota.

• 2021-22 NSIC Freshman of the year
• All-NSIC in the 200 and 500 freestyle 
• Finished top-4 in multiple events during the NSIC Championship
• Four B-Cut times in the 500m and 1000m freestyle events
• Collected 63 points for the Golden Bears at the NSIC Championship

UNIVERSITY OF MARY

Looking to take another stride forward in the program’s seventh season, the University of Mary returns a veteran squad of 13 swimmers - including a 7-time conference champion Victoria Murillo and three-time All-NSIC performer Breena DeLegge – and adds four freshmen. 

Murillo is the Marauders Northern Sun Swimmer to Watch in 2022-23 and is a name very familiar around the conference. After missing last season, the senior from Cancun, Mexico, returns to headline the UMary squad. Murillo made a huge impact her first season, winning three conference titles and earning NSIC Freshman of the Year honors in 2019. She went on to win two titles in each of the next two seasons and is the NSIC recordholder in the 500 free. Murillo has also earned a slot at three straight NCAA championships. 

Slowed by injuries last season, DeLegge still earned NSIC Swimmer of the Week honors and CSCAA Scholar All-American honors as a junior. Back for her senior season, DeLegge is a 3-time all-NSIC performer who won the 100 free as a sophomore and was an NCAA qualifier as a freshman. 

All-NSIC performer Riley Webb is back for her senior season. Juniors Mikayla Brackin, Allie Elliot, Keely Lucina, Korie Riely and Madi Yonke round out the group of upperclassmen. 

The Marauders open their season Oct. 1 when UMary hosts the University of Jamestown. 

• 7-time NSIC champion, including three times each in the 200 and 500 free
• 9-time All-NSIC performer
• NSIC recordholder in the 500 free
• Qualified for NCAA championships all three years (2019-20-21)
• 2019 NSIC Freshman of the Year

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY, MANKATO 

The Minnesota State will see 26 letterwinners from last season’s team that went on to claim the program’s third NSIC Championship with 1,079.5 points…Six Mavericks who claimed All-NSIC honors last season return, including senior Kailyn Arps, senior Nicole Beckman, junior Ella DeFever, sophomore Abby Gronholz, junior Olivia Meinberg and junior Elise Mishmash…Beckman finished first in the 100 butterfly at the NCAA Championships last year, while DeFever was a member of the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams that took first place…Gronholz took first place in the 100 backstroke at the NSIC Championships and was a member of the 200 and 400 medley relay teams that finished first…Beckman and Gronholz would go on to receive All-American honors as members of the MSU 200 medley relay team that finished eighth at the NCAA Championships. Meinberg also competed in the 50 freestyle event at the NCAA Championships…Sophomore Sydney Hanson and Aspen Warnygora would also compete in the 1 and 3 meter diving events at the NCAA Championships…Hanson finished 13th in the 1-meter diving event and 17th in the 3-meter diving event at the NCAA Championships, while Warnygora finished 22nd in the 1-meter diving event.  

Abby Gronholz  (100 & 200 Backstroke, So., Chaska, Minn. / Chanhassen HS) 

• Earned three All-NSIC honors at the 2022 NSIC Championships as she finished first in the 200 medley relay, the 400 medley relay and the 100 backstroke events
• Took seventh place in the 200 backstroke event at the NSIC Championships
• Earned an All-American Honorable Mention at the 2022 NCAA Championships as she finished ninth in the 100 backstroke with a time of 54.98
• Earned All-American honors as a member of the MSU 200 medley relay team that finished eighth at the NCAA Championships

Sydney Hanson (1M/3M Dive, So., Bettendorf, Iowa / Bettendorf HS)

• Was named the NSIC Diver of the Week twice during the 2021-22 season
• Took fourth place in the 1-meter diving event at the NSIC Championships and fifth place in the 3-meter diving event
• Finished 13th in the 1-meter diving event at the NCAA Championships
• Finished in 17th place in the 3-meter diving event at the NCAA Championships

MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

MSUM has a young squad it will bring into the 2022-23 season. The roster features six sophomores and five true freshmen. Sophomore Demi-Lee Carlisle returns after a solid freshman campaign which saw her win one event and be part of four winning relays. 

Sophomore Arina Bratamidjaja is back after winning one event and being part of three winning relays a year ago.  Sophomores Linnea Edgren, Lily Lengerich, Molly Lenmark and Maggie Sullivan also return with experience for MSUM. Charlie King will be entering his sixth year at MSUM; he is assisted by former Dragon All-American Erin Sullivan.

• Had five first place finishes, including four first place relays
• Had nine second place finishes, including four second place relays
• Competed at the NSIC Championship meet where she placed seventh as part of the 200 free relay and as a part of the 400 medley relay

NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY

The Northern State University swimming team enters their second season under the direction of head coach Kaden Huntrods, in his first season Huntrods led the Wolves to a 4-4 dual meet record and a sixth place finish at the NSIC Championships. The Wolves return three all-conference swimmers from last season, Maddie Gonzales (200 Backstroke), Lauren Forsyth (200 Butterfly), and Haley Osborne (200 Freestyle). The three All-NSIC performers were the most since 2017 for Northern. Osborne returns for her sophomore season in Aberdeen having set the school’s freshman record in the 500 Freestyle with a time of 5:08.14 and recorded a NCAA B Standard time of 1:52.45 in the 200 Freestyle at the NSIC Championships. Northern State begins the 2022-23 season on September 23 when they host SMSU and CSP. 

• Holds personal best times of 1:59.04 in the 200 Freestyle, 2:22.99 in the 200 Breaststroke, 2:10.85 in the 200 Backstroke, 2:07.47 in the 200 Butterfly, 2:06.69 in the 200 IM, and 4:33.28 in the 400 IM
• This summer she was the South Dakota state champion in the 100 Breaststroke, 200 Breaststroke, 100 Butterfly, 200 Butterfly, and the 200 IM
• She has been a South Dakota state champion in at least three events every year since 2018
• Earned top-10 finishes in the 50 Freestyle, 200 Butterfly, 200 IM, and the 400 IM at the USA Swimming Futures Championships

UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS

With a 4th place finish at the NSIC Championships last year the Cougars look to return to the top-three after breaking a streak of four-straight third-place finishes. With most swimmers returning, the Cougars look to yet again be a top team at the NSIC Championships and receive multiple invites to the NCAA Championships. USF returns their top 10 scorers from the 2022 NSIC Championships including Swimmer to Watch Lizzy Spaans who returns for the 5th year of her decorated career. The team will also have 11 new swimmers and open the year with the programs second most swimmers in its history. Last year Spaans scored the 3rd most points at the NSIC Championships and claimed three medals which included titles in the 100 IM, 200 IM, and 800 Free Relay(team). Freshman stand out Inte Pas will look to continue her impressive young career and build on her gold medal in the 200 Y Breast during the NSIC Championships. For the third straight year USF sent three or more swimmers to the NCAA championships, Spaans, Pas, and Illinde du Plessis will seek that honor again.

• Won the 100 IM and 200 IM at the 2022 NSIC Championships
• Set a personal best mark five times during the 2022 NSIC Championships
• Scored the third most points at the 2022 NSIC Championships
• Invited to NCAA DII Championships every year of her collegiate career (4 times)

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

Southwest Minnesota State University begins its fourth collegiate swimming & diving season in 2022-23 and will look to continue its upward trajectory at the NSIC Championships in February.

SMSU has placed eighth at the NSIC Championships in each of its three seasons of competition.

SMSU fourth-year head coach Marty Wahle has 22 athletes on the roster, including 17 returning letter winners.

Headlining the list of returners is junior Natalie Bohnert, who has earned All-NSIC accolades the past three seasons. She is a three-time All-NSIC honoree in the 200 backstroke and was an all-conference performer in the 100 backstroke in both 2020 and 2021. She enters the season holding school records in seven events.

Junior MacKenzie Kallevig returns and holds the school record in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-freestyle, which were both set at last season’s NSIC Championships.

Junior Addi Schroeder is another returning upperclassman who has competed in several NSIC meets will look to score points at this year’s meet.

The team also boasts a strong group of sophomores that gained valuable experience during the 2021-22 season.

Sophomore diver Sarah McDonald returns after competing in nine meets a season ago and placing 11th at the NSIC Championships in both the 1-meter and 3-meter events.  

Nat Bohnert (Backstroke/Butterfly/IM, Sr., Petersburg, Ind. / Pike Central HS) 

• All-NSIC First Team, 200 backstroke (2022)
• All-NSIC First Team, 200 backstroke and 100 backstroke (2021)
• All-NSIC First Team, 200 backstroke and 100 backstroke (2020)

Sarah McDonald (1/3M Dive, So., Prior Lake, Minn. / Prior Lake HS) 

• Competed in nine meets during the 2021-22 season
• Placed 11th in the 1M and 3M Diving at the 2022 NSIC Championships with scores of 307.30 and 307.25

ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY

The 2022-23 St. Cloud State Women’s Swim & Dive team features a loaded corps of returners from last season’s NSIC runner-up squad alongside a strong group of newcomers. The Huskies have earned six straight top-two finishes at the NSIC Championships and hold five NSIC titles. 

Six 2021-22 NCAA qualifiers – Kara Cowell, Kailey Fossell, Ashton Hobza, Meredith Matchinsky, Anna Reschko and Olivia Travis – headline the returning Huskies. Ruthie Lucht broke multiple school records as a freshman last season while Meredith Bangs leads the distance swimmers. Freshmen Elizabeth Ford, Natalie Gneiser, Claire Salzer and Ella Sieber highlight a strong class of first-year Huskies. All-American and six-time All-NSIC honoree Meredith Matchinsky was named the Huskies’ Diver to Watch while Anna Reschko was named the SCSU Swimmer to Watch after finishing top-five in three different events at the 2022 NSIC Championships. 

St. Cloud State begins official competition on September 30 at Nebraska-Omaha then travels to Augustana for a triangular alongside Sioux Falls on October 1. 

Anna  Reschko (200 IM/100 Fly/200 Fly/100 Free, So. Frankfurt, Germany / Ziehenschule HS) 

• Placed 2nd in the 200 fly, 3rd in the 100 fly, and 5th in the 100 free NSIC Championships last season
• Finished 10th in the 200 IM at NSIC Championships a year ago
• Earned a NCAA “B” cut in the 100 free
• Recorded season-best times of 55.66 in the 100 fly, 2:06.01 in the 200 fly, 2:08.86 in the 200 IM, and 51.99 in the 100 free

Meredith  Matchinsky (1M/3M Dive, Sr., St. Cloud, Minn. / St. Cloud Tech HS)

• Placed third in both 1 and 3-meter dives at the NSIC Championships last season
• Earned six All-NSIC honors in diving in her career
• Has placed fifth or higher in 1 and 3-meter dives each of the past three seasons at NSIC Championships
• Earned NCAA DII All-American & CSCAA Scholar All-American honors as a freshman