Courtesy: Augustana Athletics
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Diving will be part of the Augustana swimming program beginning in 2021-22. The sport will work in tandem with the now four-year-old swimming program.
“I’m very excited about the addition of diving to our current women’s swimming program,” Augustana head coach Lindsie Micko said. “At the NCAA level, swimming & diving is a combined sport, similar to track & field.
“We have built up our swimming program over the last four years and adding diving will help us become more successful in dual meets, our conference championships and at the NCAA level.”
The addition of the Augustana swimming program was announced April 21, 2015, as the Vikings’ 19th varsity program. Micko was tabbed the head coach of the program July 8, 2015, with Augustana taking to the pool for the first time in 2016.
Since then, Augustana has recorded three NSIC Freshmen of the Year honors, the 2019-20 NSIC Swimmer of the Year and the NSIC Swimmer of the Championships in addition to 27 All-NSIC honors. Taylor Beagle, currently a senior, has earned a pair of All-America awards while recently graduated Destini Oehlertz joined her with the prestigious honor in 2019-20.
In the 2019-20 season, the team earned its first-ever national ranking, checking in at No. 22 of the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Top-25 poll.
“We are always looking to add opportunities for student-athletes and diving fits right into our department-wide growth strategy,” Augustana Director of Athletics Josh Morton said. “Coach Micko has built a program from scratch and this is a great next step.”
The 2020-21 Augustana swimming roster consists of 24 individuals while the diving team will add to that number.