Mavericks swim and dive team set for NSIC Championships

Minnesota State’s swimming and diving team are gearing up to compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Championships. The four-day event will begin today in Rochester as the Mavericks prepare to face off against Augustana, the University of Mary, Minnesota State-Moorhead, Northern State, Sioux Falls and St. Cloud State.

“We’re looking forward to an exciting week in Rochester,” head coach Nathan Owens said to Minnesota State Athletics. “The NSIC has some truly great teams, so the level of competition should be excellent.”

The Mavericks are heading into the championship with a 4-1 record. The Mavericks dropped their opening year match against South Dakota but proceeded to hammer four straight wins over UW-Eau Claire, Augustana, and Sioux Falls. In addition to those victories, Minnesota State took first place against UW-Stevens Point and Gustavus Adolphus, at the UW-Stevens Point Invite and in their Winter Break Training Trip.

“This is the time of year that many of us are excited and nervous at the same time. It’s when all that hard work and hours spent training hard should pay off. As coaches, we place a big emphasis on making sure that the athletes are well rested and focused as we peak for this four-day prelim/finals meet format,” said Owens.

Minnesota State will head to Rochester with multiple women ready to compete in individual events, two relay teams for the four relay events, and five divers for diving events.

Tuesday will see the 1,000-yard freestyle, 200-yard individual medley, 50-yard freestyle, and 200-yard medley relay events. Wednesday will feature the 200-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard Individual Medley, 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard freestyle, 1-meter diving, and 400-yard medley relay events. Thursday’s action will include the 500-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, 100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard butterfly, and 800-yard freestyle relay events. Finally, Friday will host the 1,650-yard freestyle, 100-yard Individual medley, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard backstroke, 200-yard

breaststroke, 3-meter diving, and 400-yard freestyle relay events.

“It’s fun to see who steps up under the pressure of a big meet against great competition and rises to the occasion. Our team has some very motivated women that have worked hard throughout the season to be at their best for this meet. It will be fun to watch it all unfold,” said Owens.

Preliminary trials start at 10 a.m. and finals begin at 6:00 p.m. every day.