GRAND FORKS, N.D.--The top-ranked Fighting Sioux swimming and diving squads are dispersing around the Midwest this weekend to put their skills on display. The diving teams will head to St. Cloud to take part in the St. Cloud State Invitational and the swimming teams will split their squad between the Eastern Michigan Invite and St. John's Invite.
St. Cloud Invite
UND will join St. Cloud State, Gustavos Adolfus College, St. Olaf, and the College of St. Benedict at the invite. Senior Kari Varichak and junior Dani Vasina are the two divers for UND that have already paved their way to nationals. The men's squad has their sights set on adding their names to the list bound for nationals.
The meet is set to take place in the Halenbeck Hall Pool at noon on Saturday.
St. John's Invite
Select members of the Fighting Sioux swim team will face-off against members of the South Dakota State University, the University of Wisconsin- River Falls and St. John's swim teams at the meet. The event is set to start at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Eastern Michigan Invite
The 2006 EMU Invitational field consists of 2005 women's first place finisher, the University of Michigan, Mid-American Conference foe University of Toledo, University of Waterloo, Allegheny College, Kalamazoo College, University of North Dakota, Hillsdale College, Calvin College, Wayne State University and the University of Findlay.
The number one ranked Sioux men's team will be looking to dethrown the Eastern Michigan University men's swimming team who have won the meet for the past nine years, dating back to the 1997-98 season.
The meet will be taking place Dec. 1-2. The swimmers will hit the pool at 3:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m.
Top Dogs
The University of North Dakota men's swimming team is at the top with it's recent ranking of No. 1 in the country, according to recent Division II poll by CollegeSwimming.com. Moreover, the Sioux women are ranked No. 2 in the country. Along with achieving top national rankings, the Sioux were able to sweep the NCC swimming and diving awards announced last week as well as add another National Swimmer of the Week award to their list.
Seniors Sarah Wollenhaupt, Rodrigo Ferreira and Kari Varichak were named NCC Swimmers and Diver of the Week. Wollenhaupt was also named National Swimmer of the week by CollegeSwimming.com.
Contact: Lisa Persuitti
