VERMILLION, S.D. - The South Dakota swimming and diving teams will count an experience - along with an infusion of youthful talent - in the 2011-12 season. The Coyote teams open the 2011-12 campaign at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the DakotaDome against North Dakota (men and women) and St. Cloud State (men only).
The Coyotes are entering their seventh season under the direction of Head Coach Jason Mahowald. The women finished third in the Summit League a year ago while the men were fifth; the women were picked to finish third in the preseason coaches' poll, while the men were picked to finish fourth.
Here is a look at the 2011-12 Coyote teams:
Women
Senior Lizz Hoffman (Eureka, S.D.) leads a seasoned Coyote women's team. Hoffman is a three-time Summit League individual champion; she won both the 50 freestyle and 200 freestyle titles in 2011. She is also the school record holder in four freestyle events.
The Coyotes return six seniors overall, including Kayla Smith (Woodbury, Minn.) who recorded a pair of top eight finishes in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events at the Summit League Championships last year. Smith also has the fifth-fastest 100 breaststroke time in school history. Senior divers Janine James (Cheyenne, Wyo.) and Megan Schutt (Austin, Texas) also return after solid seasons. Seniors Madisen Roberts (Gillette, Wyo.) provides depth in the mid-distance events with Leah Schretenthaler (Aiea, Hawaii) contributing in the backstroke and butterfly events.
Junior Kaitlyn Jefferson (Westland, Mich.) returns after earning All-Summit League honors a year ago. She has been a consistent scorer in the sprint events during her Coyote career. Juniors Raynee Buckley (Omaha, Neb.) and Jackie Kahnke (Shakopee, Minn.) also had top 10 finishes at the Summit League meet last February.
Sophomore Mariah Anderson (Kearney, Neb.) is also expected to have big impact this season after earning two All-Summit League honors a year ago. Sophomore Linay McCrady (Savage, Minn.) had three top seven finishes at the conference meet a year ago and is a key performer in the distance events.
A promising group of freshmen, led by Molly Knowles (Lockport, Ill.), Paige Stavely (Hemock, Mich.) and Corey Wannamaker (New Berlin, Wis.), also should could make immediate impacts for the Coyotes this year.
Men
A veteran senior nucleus - the Coyotes have nine on the roster -- anchors the Coyote men's team in 2011-12, led by diver Chris Hause (Overland Park, Kan.) Thad Stoddard (Douglas, Wyo.), Terry Rolfe (Newcastle, Wyo.), and Dane Van Arkel (Colorado Springs, Colo.).
Hause had two All-Summit League honors in diving a year ago, while Stoddard and Rolfe also earned All-Summit League honors and were consistently among the team's top point scorers. Van Arkel is strong in the freestyle events.
Senior Matt Weyer (Taos, N.M.) and Joe Dolan (Omaha, Neb.) provide depth in the freestyle events, while senior Ryan Krysl (Omaha, Neb.) is a key contributor in the IM and butterfly. Senior Luke Maier (Norfolk, Neb.) also helps in the sprints.
The team is counting on two juniors and two sophomores to contribute but also has a large freshman class of nine ready to make a splash. Freshman Colin Krysl (Millard, Neb.) is expected to be a big contributor this season, while a trio of freshmen - Nick Hopson (Gillette, Wyo.), Dakota Soucie (Fairfield, Neb.) and Jake Tempesta (Apple Valley, Minn.) - are all expected to have a big impact in the breaststroke.
Schedule
After opening the season on Saturday, the Coyotes will have three straight home meets. The women play host to Iowa State on Oct. 28, followed by a men's and women's dual against Western Illinois on Oct. 29. The women will host Northern Iowa on Nov. 5.
South Dakota's last home meet of the season is Nov. 19 against in-state rival South Dakota State. The Coyotes will face North Dakota, SDSU, Nebraska-Omaha (women) and Morningside (men) in duals, along with competing at the Border Battle (Stevens Point, Wis.), Falcon Invite (Minneapolis, Minn.) and the Minnesota Challenge (Minneapolis, Minn.).
