Minnesota State Moorhead will join a six-team field for the first Northern Sun Championships in women's swimming and diving competition. The four-day affair begins Wednesday night at the HPER Pool at the University of Nebraska Omaha at Omaha, NE.


SCHEDULE- - - Minnesota State University Moorhead will enter the Northern Sun Championships February 18-21 at the HPER Pool at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Omaha, NE. The meet begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, and sessions are scheduled daily at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

FIELD- - - The six-team field includes Minnesota State University, Mankato, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Northern State University, St. Cloud State University, University of South Dakota and host Nebraska Omaha.

COACH- - - Todd Peters begins his 12th season as swimming and diving coach at MSUM. Peters was boys' swimming and diving coach at Moorhead High School (1991-97) and girls' swimming and diving coach at Fargo South (ND) High School (1993-97). Peters is assisted by Christina Wavrin, Lindsey Rorman and Stacy Bourassa.

LAST WEEK- - - MSUM was idle last weekend.

ACADEMIC HONORS- - - MSU Moorhead Swimming and Diving received an Academic All-American Team award for fall semester with a composite grade point average of 3.28, ninth best in NCAA Division II.

DRAGON-COBBER INVITATIONAL- - - MSU Moorhead placed first at the Cobber-Dragon Invitational January 30-31 with 1,158 points, followed by Concordia College, 673, Northern State, 293, and Minnesota, Morris, 278. Ann Gusewelle broke MSUM and Alex Nemzek Pool records in the 50 breaststroke, 30.75., and 200 breaststroke, 2:26.62, and swam an NCAA National B cut time in the 200 breaststroke. Lisa Black broke school and pool records and reached a NCAA II B cut time of 59.64 on her leadoff backstroke leg of the 400 medley relay. The 400 medley relay team of Black, Gusewelle, Karena King, and Lauren Baalman set new school and pool records, 3:58.38, while the 800 freestyle unit of Baalman, Black, Jessica Belden and Jessica Tauber lowered the pool record to 8:17.02. Sarah Wilker also established a new MSUM record in the 1 meter dive of 383.50.

GET TO THE POINT- - - MSU Moorhead posted its best finish ever at the Get To The Point Invitational at Stevens Point, WI, with a fourth place in a six-team field. UW LaCrosse claimed the team title with 898 points while MSU, Moorhead was fourth at 601. Karena King was a double winner in the 200 breaststroke, 2:27.16, and 200 IM, 2:11.46, Ann Gusewelle captured the 100 breaststroke, 1:07.50, Lisa Black won the 200 backstroke, 2:11.50, and Lauren Baalman was first in the 100 butterfly, 1:00.24. The Dragons also set four new school records, including King in the 200 IM, Jessica Doar in the 500 freestyle, 5:22.68, Claire Caron in the 200 butterfly, 2:11.68, and Kayla Koenig in the one meter dive, 369.30. King reached a NCAA National B cut in the 200 IM.

UMM DUAL- - - MSU Moorhead captured 15 of 16 first place finishes and swamped Minnesota, Morris 193-93 in a January 16 dual at Morris. The Dragons had five double winners, including Tara Cherry in the 500 yard freestyle, 5:47.46, and 1000 freestyle, 11:47.23, Jessica Doar in the 100 yard breaststroke, 1:15.82, and 200 freestyle, 2:01.72, Lauren Baalman in the 50 yard backstroke, 30.75, and 100 yard freestyle, 57.12, Karena King in the 100 yard backstroke, 1:07.07, and 400 yard IM, 4:54.56, and Sarah Wilker in the one meter dive, 242.95, and three meter dive, 252.45. MSUM swept the 200 yard medley relay, 2:02.03, and 200 yard freestyle relay, 1:46.84, as well.

ROLLINS INVITE- - - Minnesota State Moorhead captured the eight-team Rollins Winter Invitational title at Daytona Beach, FL January 4 with 524 points. Ann Gusewelle was a double winner in the 100 yard breaststroke, 1:07.40, and 200 yard breaststroke, 2:31.52, Claire Caron was first in the 200 yard IM, 2:16.91, and 200 yard butterfly, 2:12.95, and Lauren Baalman won the 100 yard butterfly, 1:02.30.

NSU DUAL- - - MSU Moorhead grabbed the top four places in both diving events and splashed to a 184-78 romp over Northern State December 12 at MSUM. Sarah Wilker captured both the 1 meter dive, 243.50, and 3 meter dive, 246.20. Claire Caron was double winner in the 100 yard freestyle, 59.29, and 200 yard freestyle, and 2:06.14, and swam second leg on the winning 200 yard freestyle relay, 1:48.79. Tara Cherry swept the 500 yard freestyle, 5:52.60, and 1000 freestyle, 11:56.02.

FALCON INVITE- - - MSU Moorhead, sparked by a solid day two performance by Dragon divers, claimed first place with 762 points at the Falcon Invitational Red Division December 5-6 in Minneapolis. MSUM received lofty finishes from Kayla Koenig (2nd), Sarah Wilker (3rd) and Heather Johnson (5th) in the 3-meter dive to fuel the rally. Lisa Black broke MSUM school records in the 100 and 200 yard backstroke events and achieved a NCAA "B" cut with a time of 2:09.15 in the 200 backstroke. Ann Gusewelle swept the 100 and 200 breaststroke, and set a new MSUM record of in the 200 breaststroke. Claire Caron won the 400 IM and 100 butterfly and finished third in the 200 IM. Karena King finished second in the 100 butterfly, third in the 200 breaststroke and fourth in the 200 IM. Lauren Baalman was second in the 200 freestyle and fourth in the 200 butterfly, and the Dragons finished first in the 200 and 400 medley and second in the 400 freestyle relays.

UNK, ROCKY MOUNTAIN INVITE- - - MSUM toppled University of Nebraska-Kearney 110-30 and Northern State University 111-29 in a double dual at Kearney, NE, and placed first with 1,141.5 points in a field of six teams at the Rocky Mountain Invitational November 22-23 at Golden, CO. MSU Moorhead posted 13 firsts, including five by Lisa Clark and four each by Anne Gusewelle and Claire Caron. MSUM established a new pool relay record of 4:045.69 in the 400 yard medley relay on Friday while Caron reached the NCAA Division II National "B" cut mark in the 400 IM.

RANKINGS- - - MSUM is ranked fifth on the latest CSCAA/CollegeSwimming.com Dual Meet Rankings, the first time the Dragon women have been included in the top five in the nation. Wayne State (MI) is ranked first.

ST. OLAF DUAL, CSB/SJU INVITE- - - MSU Moorhead defeated St. Olaf College 169-93 in a November 14 dual at Northfield and placed first at the CSB/SJU Invitational November 15 at Collegeville. The Dragons won 12 events in Friday's dual, including the 200 yard medley relay (Lisa Black, Ann Gusewelle, Claire Caron, Jessy Belden), 1:53.09, 200 yard freestyle relay (Amy Roness, Karena King, Kyle Potter, Lauren Baalman), 1:42.82, Caron in the 200 yard butterfly, 2:12.52, 200 yard backstroke, 2:14.51, and 200 yard IM, 2:15.78, Gusewelle in the 100 yard breaststroke, 1:07.42, and 200 yard breaststroke, 2:29.33, Roness in the 50 yard freestyle, 25.60, and 100 yard freestyle, 55.72, Black in the 100 yard backstroke, 1:01.37, Belden in the 500 yard freestyle, 5:25.22, and King in the 100 yard butterfly, 1:01.33. On Saturday MSUM captured first place in the seven-team CSB/SJU Invitational with 793 points. MSUM recorded eight firsts, including Caron in the 100 yard butterfly, 1:00.00, and 200 yard butterfly, 2:12.03, Gusewelle in the 100 yard breaststroke, 1:06.89, and 200 yard breaststroke, 2:27.92, Black in the 100 yard backstroke, 1:01.30, Belden in the 500 yard freestyle, 5:24.00, King in the 200 yard IM, 2:17.32, and Black, Gusewelle, King and Roness in the 200 yard medley relay, 1:52,32.

GOOD TIMES FOR GUSEWELLE- - - Ann Gusewelle enjoyed a rewarding weekend, producing six first place finishes, including a pair of relays, setting a St. Olaf pool record of 1:07.42 in the 100 yard breaststroke on Friday, and improving her NCAA “B” cut time with a MSUM record of 1:06.89 in the 100 breaststroke at the CSB/SJU Invitational.

ST. OLAF RELAYS- - - MSU Moorhead produced six firsts and a second at the St. Olaf Relays November 3. MSUM placed first in the 800 yard freestyle, 8:38.44, 300 yard breaststroke, 3:21.47, 300 yard butterfly, 2:56.21, 400 yard IM, 4:18.76, 1,100 yard animal, 12:35.02, and 300 yard freestyle, 2:31.53.and second in the 300 yard backstroke, 3:02.15. Ann Gusewelle's split of 1:06.94 in the 300 breaststroke was the earliest NCAA National “B” mark in MSUM history and broke the Thorpe Pool record. Karena King set a MSUM record with a split of 1:03.53 in the 4 x 100 individual medley relay.

NMU/SCSU- - - MSU Moorhead defeated Northern Michigan, 169.5-68.5 but fell to St. Cloud State 161-81, on October 17 in a double dual at Alex Nemzek Pool. On October 18, MSUM fell to St. Cloud State 202-97 and swamped Northern Michigan 218-80. Claire Caron swept the 400 IM, 4:42.05, and 200 butterfly, 2:13.29, on Friday. Lisa Black finished first in the 200 yard backstroke, 2:13.87, and joined Ann Gusewelle, Caron and Amy Roness on the winning 400 yard medley relay, 4:03.67, on day one. On Saturday Caron swept the 100 butterfly, 59.57, and 200 IM, 2:15.09, while Gusewelle was a double winner in the 50 yard breaststroke, 31.15, and 100 yard breaststroke, 1:08.50.

LETTERWINNERS- - - MSUM retains 16 letterwinners, including senior Lauren Baalman (Frisco, TX), juniors Ann Gusewelle (Osakis), Heather Harris (Ponca City, OK), Cassie Jensen (Jamestown, ND), Jessica Knote (Billings, MT), Kayla Koenig (Crookston), Kelsie Meyer (Watertown, SD), Katie Pribula (Thief River Falls), Amy Roness (Williston, ND) and Sarah Wilker (Detroit Lakes), and sophomores Lisa Black (Sheridan, CO), Maren Fruia (Brownsville, TX), Marley Hanson (Crookston), Karena King (Detroit Lakes), Alison Moore (Glenwood) and Kylie Potter (Lincoln, NE).

THEY HIT THE BOOKS, TOO- - - Forty Division II college swimming and diving teams, including MSUM, were named as Academic All-American teams for the Spring 2008 semester, the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). The Dragons swimming ranked 13th with a composite grade point average of 3.34, according to head coach Todd Peters. Twenty individuals were saluted for maintaining a GPA of 3.75 or better, including MSUM junior Ann Gusewelle (Osakis).

CAPTAINS- - -Lauren Baalman, Ann Gusewelle, Jessica Knote and Amy Roness will share captaincy honors for 2008-09.

NATIONALS - - Minnesota State Moorhead sophomore Ann Gusewelle picked up a second All-American certificate with a fifth place finish in the 100 yard breaststroke with a 1:04.83 clocking at the 2008 NCAA II Women's Championships at Columbia, MO. Gusewelle and 200 yard medley relay teammates Barbie Brooks, Karena King and Amy Roness also earned All-American honors for a sixth place finish with a time of 1:47.28. MSU Moorhead placed 25th with 40 points.

ALL-AMERICANS- - - Ann Gusewelle was a two-time All-American last spring in the 100 yard breaststroke and 200 yard medley relay. Barbie Brooks, Karena King and Amy Roness joined Gusewelle and earned All-American honors in the medley relay as well.

2008 NATIONAL QUALIFIERS- - - Seven Dragons qualified for the 2008 NCAA Division II Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, including divers Sarah Chaussee, Kayla Koening and Sarah Wilker, and relay members Ann Gusewelle, Karena King, Barbie Brooks and Amy Roness. Gusewelle has qualified in the 100 breaststroke as well, while Brooks will enter the 50 freestyle and King the 100 butterfly.

NCC CHAMPIONSHIPS- - - MSU shattered 15 school records and placed sixth at the 2008 North Central Conference Championships with 401.5 points. Host Nebraska-Omaha captured the team title with 1,148 points. Ann Gusewelle became MSU Moorhead's first NCC individual champion, winning the 100 breaststroke with the fifth fastest time in the nation of 1:05.04. After failing to qualify in the preliminaries and finals of the 200 medley relay, the Dragons capitalized on their final attempt and Barbie Brooks, Gusewelle, Karena King, and Amy Roness set a school record 1:47.28 and beat the national qualifying standard. King also earned All-NCC honors for a third place finish in the 100 butterfly while Lauren Baalman finished sixth. The 200 freestyle relay team of King, Baalman, Kylie Potter, and Alison Moore broke the MSUM record with a time of 1:39.32 and the 400 medley set a new record which was broken for a second straight time as Brooks, Gusewelle, King, and Roness combined for 3:58.56. King broke the MSUM school record and achieved a NCAA II National "B" in the 200 individual medley. The 400 medley relay team of Brooks, Gusewelle, Maren Fruia, and Alison Moore broke the school record while Brooks set a 100 backstroke record with her leadoff split of 1:01.22.

RECORDBUSTERS- - - MSU Moorhead established 10 school records last year, including six by Ann Gusewelle and five by Amy Roness. Gusewelle also set new Alex Nemzek Pool records in the 100 breaststroke, 1:06.69, and 200 breaststroke, 2:29.89.
LONE SENIOR- - - Lauren Baalman is the lone senior on the 28-member Dragon roster that includes nine juniors, seven sophomores and 11 freshmen.

ALL-NCC ACADEMIC- - - Ten Dragons were named to the 2007-08 All-NCC Academic team, including Amanda Bateman, Sarah Chaussee, Ann Gusewelle, Jessica Knote, Danielle Lauderbaugh, Kelsie Meyer, Ashley Oliverius, Krista Pribula, Andrea Wade and Sarah Wilker.

NEXT MEET- - - MSU Moorhead will host the Last Chance Invitational February 27-28.

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