Michigan Qualifies 12 Swimmers for NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Twelve student-athletes from the No. 10-ranked University of Michigan women's swimming and diving team have been selected to compete at the NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, as announced on Wednesday (March 5).

Seven Wolverines qualified for multiple individual events, led by Rebecca Diaconescu and Letitia Sim, who will compete in three events each. Diaconescu earned spots in the 200-, 500-, and 1,650-yard freestyle races, while Sim will race in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke as well as the 200-yard individual medley. Sim medaled in all three events at the Big Ten Championships in Columbus.

Stephanie Balduccini qualified for the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events and ranks in the top 10 nationally in both. She captured the 200-yard freestyle Big Ten title with a time of 1:41.16. Hannah Bellard earned her way to the NCAA Championships in Federal Way, Wash., after meeting the standard in the 200-yard butterfly and 500-yard freestyle. The sophomore dominated the 200-yard butterfly at the conference championships, winning the event with a time of 1:52.04.

Lindsay Flynn will compete in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events. She won the 100 free at the Big Ten Championships with a time of 47.30. Brady Kendall will join Flynn in the 50-yard freestyle and will also race in the 100-yard butterfly. The junior finished second in both events at the Big Ten Championships. Claire Newman qualified for the 50- and 100-yard freestyle after finishing ninth and 13th, respectively, at the conference championships.

Five Wolverines earned qualification in one individual event. Malia Amuan and Christey Liang qualified for the 200-yard freestyle, while graduate student Casey Chung will compete in the 100-yard backstroke. Lexi Greenhawt will race in the 100-yard freestyle, and freshman Marian Ploger rounds out Michigan's qualifiers in the 1,650-yard freestyle.

Michigan qualified for all five relay events and carries momentum into the NCAA Championships after winning four relay golds at the Big Ten Championships. The Wolverines are one of nine schools sending 12 or more swimmers to the national championships.

Diving selections will be announced on March 13 following the conclusion of the NCAA Zone Diving Championships.

The NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships are scheduled to begin on March 19 at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash.