COLUMBIA, Mo. - Eight members of The University of South Dakota women's swimming and diving team will compete at the 27th annual NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships on March 12-15 at the Mizzou Aquatic Center at the University of Missouri. The University of Missouri, Rolla is serving as the host institution.

Members of the Coyote squad participating in the championships will include Megan Gordon (Sr., Grand Rapids, Minn.), Leita Rolfe (Sr., Newcastle, Wyo.), Sallie Collins (Fr., Hastings, Minn.), Erin Wagoner (Jr., Newcastle, Wyo.), Stacy Bjorlie (Jr., Austin, Minn.), Emilie Kluth (Sr., Columbus, Neb.), Jill Smolczyk (Sr., Omaha, Neb.), and Hannah Roetzel (Jr., Newcastle, Wyo.).

A year ago, the Coyotes finished ninth in the team standings at nationals. Drury is the defending champion women's team champion.

Rolfe and Wagoner will compete in seven individual or relay events while Bjorlie will be in six events and Collins, three. Kluth, Smolczyk and Roetzel will participate in 1-meter and 3-meter diving. During each of the four days, the preliminary rounds will take place during the morning session that will start at 10:30 a.m. each day. The championship and consolation championships will be contested during the evening sessions that begin nightly at 6 p.m., with the exception of the two distance freestyle events and the 800-yard freestyle relay which are timed finals that will take place during both sessions.

Smolczyk is a four-time All-American who is a two-time NCC Women's Diver of the Year. A year ago, she finished third in both the 1-meter competition (360.50 points) and 3-meter diving (409.15) at the national meet. She is also a four-time NCC women's champion.

Kluth earned All-America honors a year ago with a fifth-place finish (395.65 points) on the 3-meter board. She also was 10th on the one-meter board (318.50 points) last season. Roetzel will compete at nationals for the first time.

Gordon, a six-time All-American, will compete in two individual (100 backstroke, 200 backstroke) and five relays (200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, 200 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 400 freestyle). She is ranked 12th in the 200 backstroke (2:05.78) and 15th in the 100 backstroke (:58.13).

Rolfe, who has earned three All-America honors, will compete in the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 breaststroke events as well as three relays (400 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle). She is ranked in the top-10 in all three individual events. Rolfe, who was selected the NCC Co-Women's Outstanding Swimmer, is ranked sixth (2:07.54) in the 200 IM, sixth (4:31.09) in the 400 IM and ninth (2:22.36) in the 200 breaststroke. Bjorlie, a seven-time All-American, is ranked ninth (:23.88) in the 50 freestyle and 45th (:53.60) in the 100 freestyle.

Wagoner, a five-time All-American, is ranked fifth (:56.73) in the 100 butterfly and 18th (2:08.24) in the 200 butterfly.

USD's 400 medley relay, which won an NCC title and broke a school record, is the highest ranked relay at third (3:52.01). The squad will include Gordon, Rolfe, Wagoner and Bjorlie. The 400 freestyle is ranked 12th (3:33.40) with a squad of Gordon, Rolfe, Wagoner and Bjorlie. A team of Gordon, Rolfe, Collins and Wagoner will compete in the 800 freestyle relay which is ranked 12th (7:45.51). The 200 medley relay is seeded 13th (1:47.72) with a team of Gordon, Wagoner, Collins and Bjorlie. USD's 200 freestyle relay ranks 18th (1:38.07) with a squad of Gordon, Rolfe, Collins, and Bjorlie.