MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead swimming & diving is set to host its first home meet of the 2025-26 season this weekend. The Dragons take on Northern State on Saturday with a 2 p.m. start time from Nemzek Pool.

Live video will be available at msumdragons.com. Moorhead began the 2025-26 campaign on a high note last week in a 168.5-57.5 dual win over the University of Jamestown. 

Out Of The Gates...The Dragon relay squads looked sharp in the season-opening victory over Jamestown. In the 200-yard medley relay, the team of Lacie Stark, Rose Urick, Ruth Pavelski and Sophia Verke earned top marks with a time of 1:51.54. Verke would lead MSUM with a 24.99 split as the anchor. The 200-yard freestyle relay would see Pavelski, Maggie Moore, Joanna Phillips and Verke would win behind a time of 1:42.38. MSUM's team of Stark, Tresa Baumgard, Cami Mayo and Anika Grunenwald would earn the runner-up spot with a time of 1:45.93. 

We Want Moore...Junior Maggie Moore opened the season with a pair of freestyle wins, looking impressive in each race. Moore marked a 1:58.88 time to win the 200-yard freestyle as she was the only competitor to finsih with a sub-two-minute time. In the 100-yard freestyle, the Mesa, Ariz., native won with a time of 54.33. 

Leon Starts Strong...Coming off her stellar freshman campaign, sophomore Fernanda Leon continued her winning ways against Jamestown last Saturday. Leon captured a victory in the 400-yard IM with a finishing time of 4:42.69, nearly 27 seconds faster than the second-place finisher. The Lima, Peru, native also won the 100-yard butterfly, narrowly winning with a time of 59.85. 

They're Freshmen?...The Dragon newcomers shined to begin the year against Jamestown, highlighted by an event win from Anika Grunenwald in the 500-yard freestyle. Grunenwald finished the race with a time of 5:39.23. Fellow freshman Turin Johnson would claim runner-up honors in the 1000-yard freestyle behind a time of 12:09.15. Tresa Baumgard grabbed a pair of third-place finishes in the 100-yard freestyle (57.55) and the 50-yard freestyle (26) while Claire Schlaefer placed fourth in the 200-yard freestyle (2:13.59). Sarah Coe would narrowly meet a personal best, placing fourth in the 50-yard freestyle. In diving, frosh Kennedy Olson placed third in 1-meter action with a strong score of 231.20. 

Divers Hit Their Marks...Senior Isabelle Johnson would win the 1-meter diving event for Moorhead against Jamestown. The senior had an 11-dive score of 321.40, which clears as an NCAA provisional score for the Alexandria, Minn., native. Additionally, junior Zoe Bjerke also cleared an NCAA provisional mark with a runner-up finish and a score of 250.62.

Charlie King is in his eighth season as MSUM's head swimming & diving coach.

Scouting The Opposition

Northern State
2025 Dual Record: 0-2
2024 Dual Record: 1-8
Conference Finish: 9th
Head Coach: Kaden Huntrods (5th Season)
Nickname: Wolves
Top Returner: Jacie Flockhart (Diving, Jr., Two event wins, NSU 1-meter dive record holder)

Dual Schedule
1-Meter Diving
400-yard Medley Relay
1000-yard Freestyle
200-yard Freestyle
50-yard Freestyle
200-yard IM
3-Meter Diving
200-yard Butterfly
100-yard Freestyle
200-yard Backstroke
500-yard Freestyle
200-yard Breaststroke
400-yard Freestyle Relay