North Dakota Inducts Swimmer Marian Warner; 1988-89 Swim Team into Hall of Fame

GRAND FORKS, North Dakota, September 18. THE University of North Dakota inducted former All-American swimmer Marian (Warner) Nielson and the 1988-89 UNS women's swimming and diving team into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Nielson, a native of Havre, Mt., was on the Fighting Sioux women's swimming and diving team from 1987-91. During Nielson's tenure at UND, she was named All-American 28 times. She won two individual national titles and was a member of four national champion relay teams.

In 1989, Nielson won her first national title as a member of the national champion 200 medley relay team, which won the event in a time of 1:46.84. Then, in 1990, Nielson was a four-time national champion. She was a member of the 200 medley relay team that won the national title for UND in that event for the second year in a row while setting an NCAA Division II record with a time of 1:45.97. She was also a member of the national champion 400 medley relay team (3:52.91) that season, and she won individual national titles in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:05.56) and 100-meter butterfly (:57.19).

As a senior in 1991, Nielson was a member of UND's third consecutive national champion 200 medley relay team, which won in a time of 1:47.32. Nielson was a member of UND's 400 free relay team that set a school record time of 3:29.57 in 1991 that still stands. Nielson was named NCC Swimmer of the Year in 1989 and won 13 NCC individual championships throughout her college career. She was named the recipient of UND's Grace Rhonemus Award as UND's top female athlete.

Meanwhile, the 1988-89 women's swimming and diving team coached by Mike Stromberg and diving coach Todd Kolean were inducted as well. The team finished as North Central Conference Champions and placed second at the national meet in Buffalo, N.Y. The 200 medley relay team (Michelle Puetz, Janine Etchepare, Kristin McClocklin and Marian Warner) brought home a national championship and seven swimmers were named All-Americans that year. The women's swimming and diving team was chosen North Dakota Female College Team of the Year by the North Dakota state media.

Special thanks to North Dakota for contributing this report.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use