MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University women's swimming & diving team opens its 2021-22 season on Friday in Mankato for the Minnesota State Triangular against Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul.
 
Competition is slated to begin at 5 p.m. Friday's meet begins the third season for the SMSU program at the Division II level since starting the program in May of 2018. Third-year head coach Marty Wahle has 24 individuals on the 2021-22 roster with one senior, six juniors, seven sophomores and 10 freshmen.
 
SMSU returns 13 letter winners from last season's team that finished eighth in its second appearance at the NSIC Championship with 150 points. SMSU sophomore swimmer Natalie Bohnert earned All-NSIC honors in both the 200 backstroke and 100 backstroke for the second consecutive season at the 2021 NSIC Championships. She placed second in the 100 backstroke and finished third in the 200 backstroke.
 
SMSU was selected to finish eighth in the nine-team NSIC preseason coaches' poll released last month. Minnesota State was picked to repeat the NSIC in the preseason poll after placing winning last season's conference championship.
 
MSU has defeated SMSU in all three matchups since 2019, with a 205-73 victory in their lone matchup last season. CSP and SMSU will meet for the first time in program history. CSP was picked to finish ninth in the preseason poll.

Following Friday's meet, SMSU will continue action on Friday, Oct. 22, with a 6 p.m. home dual against University of Jamestown.