MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Excitement is brewing for the Minnesota State University Moorhead women's swimming and diving team as the Dragons begin their 2012-13 season at home Friday against Northern State. The dual meet begins at 6 p.m. at the Alex Nemzek Swimming Pool.

Not only do the Dragons have a mix of seasoned veterans and newcomers who look to be key contributors this year, but they also have a new conference home, as the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference is sponsoring swimming and diving as a sport for the first time this year. MSUM, Northern State, Minnesota State, Mankato, St. Cloud State, Nebraska-Kearney and Lindenwood form the NSIC's six-team swimming league. The season will culminate with the NSIC Championships, which are set for Feb. 7-10 in Rochester, Minn.

"Seeing the NSIC sponsor swimming and diving for the first time this year is the culmination of 16 years of hard work for me and I am very thankful to NSIC Commissioner, Butch Raymond, for working hard to make it happen," said MSUM head coach Todd Peters. "We started this program without a conference and then spent time in three different conferences as an affiliate member.  We have traveled to Omaha, Neb., Springfield, Mo., San Antonio, Texas, and Denver and Grand Junction, Colo., for our conference meet so to only have to drive to Rochester is such a huge relief.  The athletes will miss fewer classes, they won't have to spent a day on a bus and so many family and friends will be able to watch the meet.  The NSIC meet at Rochester is really just a dream come true for us."

The Dragons return two national diving qualifiers and five individuals who earned all-conference honors (MSUM competed in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in swimming in recent years). Junior divers Kelsey Jandro and Shayna Dugger return after earning trip to the NCAA National Championships in both diving events. Dugger also earned All-RMAC honors in diving, while junior Jenna Thompson, sophomore Rachel Walsh, sophomore Susie Kitzman and junior Megan Rieland earned all-conference honors as part of the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.

MSUM added a pair of Division I transfers for this year -- Marisa Yasuda from Cal State-Bakersfield and Taylor Miller from Western Illinois.  The team also has 10 freshmen on this year's roster. Two freshmen that shined at the alumni meet were Jackie Woods and Shae Bodrero, who placed 1-2 at the event.

After Friday's dual, the team hits the road on Oct. 19-20 at St. Cloud State and on Nov. 2-3 at the Colleges, Contentment and Cows Classic in Northfield. The Dragons' next home meet is Nov. 10 against the College of St. Benedict.

"Our team has very lofty goals this year and the most important quality backing those goals is their belief in each other," Peters said. " I have never coached a team that came together as quickly and as completely as this one has.  They are supportive, unselfish, determined and unified.  They have their eyes set on a common goal and they see no impossible obstacles in their path."