ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Golden Bear swimming and diving team kicks off the 2022-23 season with a relay meet at Northern State (S.D.) on Friday, September 23 against Northern State and Southwest Minnesota State at 5:30 p.m. They continue action Saturday, September 24 with a dual meet against Northern State at 1 p.m.

Coach Busch stated, "The girls are working hard and making each other better both inside and outside of the pool. I am excited to watch these women grow both in the pool and in the classroom throughout the season and have fun along the way."

NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll

CSP was picked ninth in the preseason coaches' poll with eight points behind Northern State.  St. Cloud State and Minnesota State were both picked to finish first with 60 points each. 

ABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS

The Golden Bears swimming and diving team is preparing to kicks off their third season as a program in the 2022-23 season. CSP looks to build off last season under second year head coach Rachel Busch, who made a significant impact during her first season leading the Golden Bears.

When asked about the Golden Bears preseason, Busch replied, "Our returners have done an exceptional job welcoming our newcomers. It has been special to see how our returners have welcomed our newcomers and helped them get assimilated to the culture of practices and our team dynamic. That has been really joyful for me to see as a coach."

CSP returns the NSIC Freshman of the Year from a year ago Farida Maher, who is poised to have a big year two for the Golden Bears. She collected a school record of 16 first-place finishes. Maher earned All-NSIC honors at the NSIC Championship and four B-Cut times in the 100, 200, 500 and 1000.

"Farida is bound and determined to make it to the NCAA Championships this year. She went into her freshman season not understanding what NCAA Championships are and the prestige that comes with qualifying for that meet. By the end of the season, she approached me and said, 'Coach, I am going to make it to the NCAA's next season.' She is on fire and determined to make it to the NCAA's this season."

 "She has put in exceptional time in the pool this summer, she is stronger in the weight room than she was a year ago and her times are where they were at the end of conference last year, so it's very exciting to anticipate her growth and success throughout the season," Busch added.

 A pair of swimmers return from the inaugural season with the program, now in its third year, with veteran swimmers Laura Vekony and Sydney Fleming, who were joined last year by impact newcomers Charly Horn and Sephanie De Leon who will enter their second seasons with the squad. The five key returners will be joined by four newcomers.

 The Golden Bears will host their first-ever event on October 22 against Minnesota State and Southwest Minnesota State at Two Rivers Pool in Mendota Heights, Minnesota and add a second home meet head-to-head against Augsburg on January 21.

 Busch stated, "They're so excited to host a home meet. They love our pool and know that it is one of the nicest facilities in the conference and they're excited to have competition there."

 CSP swim and dive will conclude their conference season at the NSIC Championships on February 8-11 in West Fargo, North Dakota with the chance to qualify for the NCAA Division II Championships held in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 8-11 at the IU Natatorium.

CSP's NSIC Swimmer to Watch

Farida Maher (100, 200, 500, So., Cairo, Egypt/Egyptian American International School)

●     2021-22 NSIC Freshman of the year

●     All-NSIC in the 200 and 500 freestyle

●     Finished top-4 in multiple events during the NSIC Championship

●     Four B-Cut times in the 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 freestyle. 

●     Collected 63 points for the Golden Bears at the NSIC Championship