This past off-season, the ISU swimming and diving team set out to correct last season’s problem of a lack of depth.

Coach Duane Sorenson and his staff came back with 11 freshmen, which almost doubles the team’s size, who expect to play a prominent role in the success of the team.

This role already showed in the intrasquad scrimmage Friday. Three of the 12 events were won by freshmen, including Anjelica Nixt in the 100-meter breaststroke and dual-winner Jennifer Vondenkamp in the 200 and 500 freestyles.

Sorenson said this class is very hungry and they want to work hard.

“As a talent pool, there’s no real superstars in this class,” Sorenson said. “Everything that we’re telling them, they’re working on and they want to get better both individually and as a group.”

Nixt, who also finished second in the 200 individual medley, said the big difference from her experiences in high school is the swimmers and divers are both there for the team.

“In high school, people were more in it for themselves, but here they want to go somewhere with each other,” Nixt said. “Last year they had a good team, but with 11 new freshmen I think it will be a lot of fun and faster.”

The incoming freshmen specialize in a variety of events, which will allow them to fill a couple of voids from last season and will help replace three seniors from last year.

The Cyclones got a trifecta of strong performances in the middle distance races at the intrasquad meet, which are events where they lost swimmers from last season. Kalyn Amundsen finished second in the 200 freestyle, and Megan Thompson finished third in both the 200 and 500 freestyles. Amy Bauer also showed prowess in her specialty, finishing second in the 100 backstroke.

Sorenson said the coaches are expecting big things from this class.

“That maybe won’t happen right away but by the end of the year they’ll be there,” Sorenson said.

The team has also added two new divers, who are adjusting to college sports as well.

Diving coach Jeff Warrick said both Abby Christensen and Justine Anders are very moldable and willing to make changes.

“That is usually a big key to improving and getting better,” Warrick said. “Our freshmen bring some excitement, and I think that excitement they had coming has helped them make adjustments.

“We have high expectations for them, but they are going to have to get used to the differences from high school to college.”

Christensen, who finished third behind Tien Tran and Kali Fryklund in both diving events at the intrasquad meet, said she just wants to bring encouragement to the team.

“I want to dive and to learn as much as I can throughout the next year,” Christensen said.