NSISC Swimming Set For a Few Tough Battles This Weekend

By Rachel Ewart, Swimming World College Intern

ARKADELPHIA – As the month of November progresses, each New South Intercollegiate Swimming Conference (NSISC) swimming team continues to train its hardest before the end of the semester approaches. Four of the nine NSISC teams have meets this coming weekend, which include West Florida, St. Cloud State, Minnesota State Moorhead and Northern State.

The NSISC swimming includes nine teams this year (Delta State, West Florida, Ouachita Baptist University, Henderson State University, Lindenwood Belleville) and four new teams (St. Cloud State, Minnesota State University Mankato, Minnesota State Moorhead and Northern State).

Looking Back

NSISC has most definitely become a more competitive environment this season. On the women’s side, West Florida and Delta State have continued to stand out most. In the first set of CSCAA Division II rankings West Florida’s women ranked 13th overall. The Argonauts have competed strongly against NCAA Division I opponents with a 1-2 record in dual meets. Highlights of West Florida’s team include sprinter Peggy de Villiers, distance freestyler Madeline Pitt, backstroker Nicole Machado and breaststroker Anna Macht.

For the No. 16 Lady Statesmen, distance swimmer Melane Tombers, backstroker Anastasia Klyarovaskaya and freestyler Dani Meerholz take the lead in holding some of the fastest times on the team. Delta’s women’s team has the volume and also the talent to continue towards the top of the rankings list as the season progresses.

For the men of NSISC, No. 12 Delta State and No. 16. St. Cloud have been set apart significantly from the other men’s teams. The Statesmen have a solid variety of versatile, strong swimmers; a few of those swimmers include Yvan Nys, Matteo Frashci, Vlad Zinca and Fabrice Wendel. This past weekend the four men stole the win in the 200 medley relay and posted a time of 1:33.95 at a double dual meet against Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist.

Makis Jorgensen won the 1000 freestyle at the meet with a time of 9:46.81 and also finished second in the 500 freestyle with a 4:56.94. Max Pendall won the 200 freestyle at 1:45.65 and Cody Lavoie had a close finish behind Pendall with a 1:45.84. Both Delta’s men’s and women’s team took the win at the double duel competition. For St. Cloud, senior Alex Bryson was awarded NSISC Swimmer of the Week (November 5) due to his excellent performances at the Cows, Colleges and Contentment Classic held in early November.

Bryson won three individual events at the meet, which included the 200 freestyle (1:43.71), the 500 freestyle (4:39.72) and the 400 individual medley (4:13.66). The men’s 200 medley relay was also a success as they stole a first place win with a time of 1:35.56. Members of the relay included Jack Spaeth, Justin Winnett, Jake Stoll and Chris Tung. Spaeth also won both the 100 and 200 backstroke with times of 54.62 in the 100 and 2:00.74 in the 200.

Not only does St. Cloud have strong swimmers, but its divers have potential as well. The Huskies collected top three spots on the three-meter board at the Cows, Colleges and Contentment Classic. David Sufficool scored 476.45 to take the win, Tyler Magalis placed second with 473.30 and Aaron Rooney claimed third with a score of 471.10. Needless to say, this year the men of NSISC have stepped it up and created a competitive atmosphere in both swimming and diving.

West Florida and St. Cloud have meets scheduled this weekend. Delta does not compete during this upcoming weekend, which will give other teams the opportunity to advance up the seasonal rankings with several good performances.

DELTA STATE

No meets this week

WEST FLORIDA

This coming weekend West Florida has a full weekend of racing at the Wingate Fall Frenzy, at three-day competition in Charlotte, N.C. The divers will compete at the Emory Diving Invitational in Atlanta, Ga on Saturday. This meet should give West Florida some solid competition. The Argonauts have talent ranged from the sprint events all the way to the distance events, which should potentially allow the team to do well across the board.

ST. CLOUD STATE

St. Cloud will battle against University of South Dakota on Friday. The competition may be close for the Husky women. South Dakota has potential to hold strong in the mid distance events with sophomore Sam Schutt. Schutt had a triple win this season at the dual meet against South Dakota State; she went times of 52.80 in the 100 freestyle split of the relay, 1:54.09 in the 200 freestyle and 5:09.10 in the 500 free. However, St. Cloud’s 200 medley relay of Emily Tiedemann, Abby Rasmussen, Andrea Bryson and Kelsey Leeson is capable of doing well at this meet; the relay claimed first place at the Cows, Colleges, and Contentment Classic with a time of 1:49.17.

For the men’s team, Alex Bryson should lead the team in the distance freestyle events. Justin Winnett and Dylan Schanz are strong breaststrokers for the Huskies and should also do well at the upcoming meet. St. Cloud’s competition at the upcoming meet will be South Dakota’s senior Nick Schutt; He had an impressive 200 freestyle at the dual meet against South Dakota State winning the with a time of 1:44.42. The Coyote men’s 200 freestyle relay also stole the win at its last meet with a time of 1:25.11; the winning relay included Schutt, Jack Knowlew, Blake Frederick and Eric Erlenmeyer. South Dakota may be challenging to take in certain events for St. Cloud men’s team, however the meet should be a good competition overall.

MINNESOTA STATE MANKATO

No meets this week

MINNESOTA STATE MOORHEAD

Minnesota State Moorhead is dueling Wisconsin Eau Claire this Saturday. MSU Moorhead women’s team conquered College of St. Benedict at a dual meet last weekend with a final score of 200.5-98.5. Juniors Lydia Weiler and Jana Hedstrom were both multiple winners at the meet. MSUM is now 3-1 in dual meets this season; The Dragons should have motivation from this win and carry their best efforts forward for the upcoming meet against EAU Claire.

OUACHITA BAPTIST

No meets this week

HENDERSON STATE

No meets this week

LINDENWOOD BELLEVILLE

No meets this week

NORTHERN STATE

This Friday, Northern is competing against Nebraska at Kearney. The Wolves had two wins in dual meets so far this season and look for another at this meet. Nebraska Kearney won its last meet against Morningside College, 127-78, but fell short to Iowa Lakes C.C with a final score of 123-82. UNK is currently 3-1 for the beginning of its season. Additionally, UNK’s senior Shelby Laramore placed third in the 1000 freestyle at 11:45.74, which will be good competition for Northern’s distance swimmers Brianna Iverson and Mikaela Waiflein. For the sprint and mid distance freestyle events, Kayla Sproles should lead the Wolves. Northern should be able to challenge UNK in several events; results to follow.

Upcoming Schedule

As each team finishes its last few meets before the Thanksgiving holiday, the upcoming December meets approach.

November 21: St. Cloud State vs. South Dakota
November 21: Northern State vs. Nebraska-Kearney
November 21-23: West Florida at Wingate Fall Frenzy, Emory Diving Invitational
November 22: Minnesota State Moorhead against Wisconsin Eau Claire
December 4-6: Henderson State competes at UALR Christmas Invitational
December 4-6: Ouachita Baptist competes at UALR Christmas Invitational
December 5-7: St. Cloud competes at Rochester Invitational
December 5-7: Northern State competes at Rochester Invitational
December 6-7: Minnesota State Mankato competes at Rochester Invitational
December 6-7: Minnesota State Moorhead competes at Rochester Invitational
December 13-16: Delta State University Christmas Invitational
December 13-15: Lindenwood Belleville competes at Delta State Invitational

Rachel Ewart is a junior competing at Ouachita Baptist. Ewart has been swimming competitively since 1999 as part of Swim Omaha (1999-2001) and the City of Shreveport Swim Team (2001-12).

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