The NCAA will conduct its national championships for Division II swimming and diving in mid-March and Incarnate Word’s women will be there in force.
The championships are set for March 11 through March 13 in Canton, Ohio.
A year ago UIW sent a delegation of five individuals to the national meet and finished in 16th position. This time around the Cardinals have qualified 10 swimmers and for the first time three divers. These 13 Incarnate Word representatives will be competing in a total of 23 events including relays and that fact gives the Cardinals the potential for a serious climb up the ladder.
Rachel Watson will be in three individual and four relay events.
Senior Rachel Watson will be the busiest Cardinal of all with her competition in three individual races and four relays. Sophomore Tamiris Nascimento will be entered in three individual and three relay events.
The Cardinals are fresh off their second consecutive team championship in the Rocky Mountain Conference. And in the most recent national Division II poll by collegeswimming.com UIW was rated seventh.
UIW NATIONAL QUALIFIERS
Paulina Alexander 1,650-freestyle, 1,000-freestyle, 500-freestyle, 400-IM
Julia Cardenas 400-free relay, 800-free relay, 200-freestyle, 500-freestyle, 100-freestyle
Kalyn Davidson 800-free relay, 100-freestyle
Lesley Murray 800-free relay, 200-butterfly
Tamiris Nascimento 400-free relay, 200-medley relay, 400-medley relay, 50-freestyle,
100-freestyle, 100-breaststroke
Ashley Paul 400-free relay
Allison Powell 1-meter diving, 3-meter diving
Melissa Ralston 400-medley relay, 100-breaststroke
Jillian Richard 3-meter diving
Nora Szilagyi 200-medley relay, 200-breaststroke
Joy Turner 200-medley relay, 400-medley relay, 100-butterfly, 100-backstroke
Rachel Watson 400-free relay, 800-free relay, 200-medley relay, 400-medley relay,
100-freestyle, 200-freestyle, 200-IM
Jessica Wilde 1-meter diving