BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The Concordia-St. Paul swimming and diving team kicks off the 2023-24 season with a relay meet at the YMCA in Aberdeen, South Dakota, on Friday against Northern State, Southwest Minnesota State and the University of Mary at 5:30 p.m. They continue on Saturday with a double dual meet against Mary and NSU at 10:30 a.m.
 
"Going into Northern, we [coaching staff] are excited, and the girls are excited to show what we're made of. The roster is bigger, and they have been working hard. We will be a competitive team amongst our opponents this season," said head coach Rachel Busch.
 
NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll
Concordia received its highest NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll ranking in program history after being picked to finish sixth with 24 points and one first-place vote. The Golden Bears are favored over Mary with 23 points; MSU Moorhead and SMSU both tallied 18 points to round out the list.
 
The reigning NSIC Champions from last season, Augustana, were picked to repeat as conference champions this season. The Vikings tallied 61 points and six first-place votes ahead of the Minnesota State Mavericks with 56 points and a pair of first-place votes.
 
ABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS
When asked about the preseason, Busch commented, "It has been a lot of fun. We started off with our team-building trip for the first time." She added, "We went to Monticello, Minnesota, rented out some cabins, and did some team-building games. We also had a discussion about a book that we read this summer called "The Power of a Positive Team", by Jon Gordon, and the girls took that assignment very seriously."
 
The Golden Bears also had many team-building activities after splitting the 16 athletes into two teams. "We split into Navy versus Gold teams, and since last Saturday, competed all the way through our intrasquad meet this past Saturday. Navy ended up winning the meet, but Gold had a big enough lead heading into the meet to win the overall competition," Busch concluded. "The girls have been very respectful, very hard working and took correction and feedback very well."
 
The Golden Bears swimming and diving team is preparing to kick off their fourth season as a program in the 2023-24 season. CSP looks to build off last season under third-year head coach Rachel Busch, who has significantly elevated the swim and dive team in her tenure leading the Golden Bears.
 
CSP returns one of the best swimmers in the entire conference from last season in Farida Maher, who is looking to break through in a big way this season after notching four All-NSIC runner-up finishes last season in the 100, 200, 500 and 1000 freestyle. Maher broke school records in each event that she previously held at the conference meet in Fargo, North Dakota, with NCAA B-Cut times.
"Farida is very determined to make it to nationals after two very close calls these last two seasons. We are excited for her to help lead the team in and out of the pool and make a run at qualifying for the NCAA Championships," Busch said.
 
With the addition of Wisconsin-Green Bay standout Caitlyn Greenwalt and incoming freshman Geneva Handziak, the Golden Bears can now call themselves a diving contender. Last season, Greenwalt made an impact for the Phoenix diving team after being named Freshman of the Year with the most conference points. She also made a name for herself during high school after qualifying for the MSHSL State Tournament and collecting a top-5 finish, which led to her receiving the HS All-American award. Handizak also had a tremendous high school career. The multi-sport athlete was chosen as team captain for her swimming and diving team and qualified for state after claiming third in both conference and sections.
 
"We have always called ourselves swim and dive, but now we really are swim and dive. It's fun to know that we are not going to lose points," Busch added. "At diving, we are going to be very competitive, and the girls are so excited that we now have divers. We anticipate scoring points at the conference meet."
 
Laura Vekony is the lone returner from the inaugural season in 2020-21. Other returners include Giulia Cury, Emma Granovsky, Hannah Hartlage, Charly Horn, Maher and Chloe Rihon. The Golden Bears will roster eight incoming freshmen and one transfer.
 
LOOKING AHEAD AT THE SCHEDULE
The Golden Bears swimming and diving squad made history last season after they successfully hosted two home meets at Two Rivers Aquatics Center in Mendota Heights.
 
"It [hosting] was so much fun! The girls still talk about it as one of their favorite memories this past year. We were blown away by how many people came to support us, and it just passed everyone's expectations," Busch said.
 
This season, CSP will host a pair of duals against MSU Moorhead on Nov. 4 and Dec. 9 against Sioux Falls, along with a double dual against Minnesota State and St. Thomas on Jan. 20.
 
On this year's home slate, Busch mentioned, "They [athletes] have an expectation of a large fan base now for our home meets this season. The fans that did come said that it was really fun and wanted to come back and support them. Now we have diving as well. It just makes things more exciting, and we now have two under home meets our belts as a staff."
 
The Golden Bears will also compete locally in St. Paul at two different meets. The first will occur on Oct. 13-14 against St. Kate's and Mary at the Butler Center. Macalester College will host the second on Dec. 1-2 at the Leonard Center.
 
CSP swim and dive will conclude their conference season at the NSIC Championships on Feb. 14-17 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with the chance to qualify for the NCAA Division II Championships held in Geneva, Ohio, on March 13-16 at the SPIRE Aquatics Center. A last chance qualifier meet will be held on Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Midco Aquatics Center in Sioux Falls.
 
FINAL WORDS FROM COACH BUSCH
"We appreciate your support and enthusiasm about our growing program, and we would love to have you at our home meets. Go Bears!"
 
CSP's NSIC Swimmer to Watch
Farida Maher (Freestyle, Jr., Cairo, Egypt / Egyptian American International School)
 
● 2022-23 NSIC All-Conference in the 100, 200, 500 and 1000 yard freestyle
● 2022-23 CSC Academic All-District® Team
● Expected to be named NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence
● Set four school records with B-Cut times at the NSIC Championships
● Led the Golden Bears with 68 points at the NSIC Championships
● Holds six individual and a member of four relay school records
● 2021-22 NSIC Freshman of the Year
 
CSP's NSIC Diver to Watch
Caitlyn Greenwalt (Dive, So., Cottage Grove, Minn. / Park HS)
 
● Freshman of the Year at Wisconsin-Green Bay
● Broke the school record in the three-meter and platform dives
● Mult-time MSHSL All-Conference Selection
● MSHSL State Qualifier and top-5 finisher at the State Tournament
● USA Junior Zone Qualifier