The ISU swimming and diving team, currently owning a 3-1 record, is off to a successful start this season. The Cyclones have received a number of key contributions from this season’s newcomers, something that has allowed them to fill the void left by last season’s departing seniors.

“We’re very pleased with the way our freshmen have responded so far,” said ISU head coach Duane Sorenson. “We knew that they were very competitive coming in.”

The Cyclones lost 11 seniors at the end of last season, accounting for three of the team’s top event times and two school records. This left plenty of room for newcomers to make an impact.

The Cyclones welcomed 12 newcomers to the roster this season. This incoming group has accounted for 23 of the 34 individual events wins for the Cyclones. Four newcomers are members of winning relay squads as well.

ISU assistant coach Kelly Nordell spoke on these new members, saying, “We have a lot of diamonds in the rough, kids that Duane and I thought really could step up to the Division I level and do something.”

Cyclone freshman Elizabeth Kleiner placed first in five events so far this season, including three in the win at South Dakota State.

“In the pool we’re working on pushing ourselves,” Kleiner said of this season’s newcomers. “Having pretty much half the team, we have to be able to step up and contribute.

“I think there are a lot of strong relationships. I know we all get along really well.”

The team is very excited about the potential that this incoming group has shown early on. Nordell said she does not think the young swimmers know their potential yet, and Sorenson adds that he sees a great deal of promise as well.

The swimmers themselves are just excited to even have the opportunity to get better.

“Personally I’m really excited to already be where I am to be able to keep getting better in the college setting,” Kleiner said. “I feel like everyone else is just as excited about that.”

The Cyclones return to the pool on Nov. 18 to 20 at the Northwestern Invitational.