MARSHALL — The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s swimming & diving team opens its delayed 2020-21 season on Thursday hosting Minnesota State inside the Don Palm Natatorium.

Diving competition is slated to start at 4:15 p.m., while the swim events are slated to begin at 5 p.m. Due to COVID-19 and Minnesota Department of Health guidelines, no spectators will be allowed inside the facility.

Thursday’s meet begins the second season for the SMSU program at the Division II level since starting the program in May of 2018. Second-year head coach Marty Wahle has 17 individuals on the 2020-21 roster with one senior, one junior, six sophomores and nine freshmen.

SMSU returns seven letter winners from last season’s team that finished eighth in its inaugural appearance at the NSIC Championship with 106 points. SMSU sophomore swimmer Natalie Bohnert earned All-NSIC honors in both the 200 backstroke and 100 backstroke at the 2020 NSIC Championships. She placed third in the 100 backstroke with a time of 57.02 and finished second in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:04.30.

SMSU was selected to finish eighth in the nine-team NSIC preseason coaches’ poll released last month. Minnesota State was picked to finish second in the preseason poll after placing second at last season’s conference championship.

MSU defeated SMSU twice last season in a pair of duals, including 192-74 in Mankato and earning a 217-68 win in Moorhead.

Following Thursday’s meet, SMSU will continue action on Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. dual at MSU Moorhead.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications