Minnesota State University Moorhead women's swimming and diving coach Todd Peters has announced three additions to the Dragon coaching staff. Former Dragon Megan Sanford has been named as an assistant coach for MSUM, while Alexis Eissinger has been named diving coach. Former Dragon Annika Bordak also joins the staff as a student assistant.
"It is always difficult to see long-time coaches like Katie Diiro and John Schmidt move on as they pursue new career paths, but having an enthusiastic and talented group of replacements makes the transition easier," Peters said. "Megan Sanford and Annika Bordak have been very successful components of our program as athletes and I look forward to them being able to make contributions as part of the coaching staff."
The three new additions join Kiersten Cooley as assistants on the Dragon staff.
Sanford is in her first season as an assistant coach for MSUM but is no stranger to the Dragon program. She was a four-year swimmer at MSUM, swimming in the distance, breaststroke and IM events.
A native of Bismarck, N.D., Sanford coached at the University of Texas Longhorn Swim Camp this past summer.
She swam for Bismarck Century High School and the Aquastorm Swim Club.
Sanford graduated from MSUM in 2014 with bachelor's degrees in math and exercise science and a minor in exercise science.
Bordak is her in first year as a student assistant coach for MSUM swimming and diving.
Bordak completed a four-year swimming career at MSUM this past February.
She is fifth all-time in school history in points scored at MSUM at 1,492.50. She won 40 events during her four-year career and is first all-time with 44 runner-up finishes.
A native of Buffalo, Minn., Bordak was a three-time academic all-conference selection.
"Sanford and Bordak were both ideal athletes and great team leaders which helps me know exactly what I'm getting for coaches," Peters said. "Bordak is the most swim technique knowledgeable athlete I've ever coached and Sanford has worked hard to improve her swimming knowledge by working the University of Texas swim camp this summer alongside multiple former Olympic swimmers and coaches. Sanford also served multiple years as a MSU Moorhead campus ambassador, tour guide, student orientation counselor and student athlete advisory committee member which will provide her a tremendous knowledge base for recruiting."
Fargo native Alexis "Lexi" Eissinger is in her first season as the MSUM diving coach. She comes to MSUM after a four-year diving carer at Division I North Dakota.
Eissinger was a three-time WAC All-Academic selection at UND. She was a four-year letterwinner in diving.
Prior to competing at UND, Eissinger competed at Fargo Davies High School, where she was a first-team all-state honoree and three-year letterwinner.
"Lexi Eissinger comes highly recommended by Brian Strom, her college coach for four years at UND," Peters said. "Coach Strom raved about Lexi's amazing work ethic and he's already helping her prepare to coach this fall. His mentorship along with my guidance will help Lexi be a great coach for our seven divers this season."
