ROCHESTER, Minn. – St. Cloud State made it three out of three as it won its third NSIC Swimming & Diving Championship Friday night at the Rochester Recreation Center in Rochester, Minnesota. The Huskies, which also won the 2012-13 and 2013-14 championships, scored 1069 points and won by 202 points over second place Minnesota State (867). In all, 14 new NSIC records were set in the 22 events held over the past four days.
Northern State’s Hannah Kastigar, an eight-time NSIC Swimmer of the Week this season, was voted by the league coaches as the NSIC Swimmer of the Year and also earned NSIC Swimmer of the Meet honors as she scored 80 points for the Wolves. Hannah’s mother Elyce Kastigar was voted by her peers at the NSIC Coach of the Year after she led the Wolves to a fourth place finish.
St. Cloud State’s Britin Thompson earned NSIC Diver of the Year honors after winning the 3-meter event while Minnesota State’s Jaycie Klein was the NSIC Diver of the Meet after she scored 37 points, winning the 1-meter diving and finishing second in the 3-meter. SCSU’s Kayle Deters took home NSIC Diving Coach of the Year honors.
Augustana’s Emma Miller earned NSIC Freshman of the Year honors as she won both the 1000 and 1650 freestyle.
The top three finalists in each individual event and top two finalists in each relay event were recognized as NSIC All-Conference during the meet.
On the final night of the four night event, Augustana’s Emma Miller stared off by taking top honors in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 17:34.24. Minnesota State’s Tylor Bass won the 100 IM in a time of 58.44 while team Cheyenne Rova continued to collect the hardware as she won the 100 freestyle in an NSIC record time of 50.29. Rova set two individual records while also being a part of four relay records at the 2016-17 championships.
St. Cloud State’s Ashley Wilson and Britin Thomsen helped put the icing on the cake for the Huskies win with a pair of wins in the 200 breaststroke (2:21.44) and the 3-meter dive (415.15).
The night and championship ended with Minnesota State setting a new NSIC record in the 400 freestyle relay as Taylor Bass, Cecilia Hake, Chelsea Calhoon and Cheyenne Rova finished in a time of 3:24.99.
The NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships will take place March 7-12 in Birmingham, Alabama as part of the NCAA DII Winter Sports Festival.
Team Scores - Final
1. St. Cloud State 1069
2. Minnesota State 867
3. MSU Moorhead 734
4. Northern State 510
5. Augustana 368
6. Sioux Falls 298
7. University of Mary 258
