A total of 12 Bisons swimmers -- totaling 75 percent of the roster -- are set to compete at U SPORTS Swimming Nationals beginning on Thursday at Toronto's Varsity Pool.
Manitoba enters nationals with nine different top 20 seedings, including
Ella Howe in the 50 free (third) and 100 free (11th),
Kelsey Fillion in the 100 free (ninth), 200 free (13th) and 50 fly (15th),
Ty Unrau in the 100 breastroke (20th) and
Tam Doan in the 50 breastroke.
Other Bisons standouts who will be competing at nationals include
Hannah Schanel (ranked 22nd in the 50 free),
Emma Mitchell (21st in the 400 individual medley),
Shea Guest (24th in the 50 back),
Andriy Usan (33rd in the 100 fly, 37th in the 50 fly),
Rhade Kostelnyk (21st in the 50 breast, 22nd in 100 breast),
Eric Dupre (20th ranked in the 200 backstroke), Indigo Halldorsen-Haines (4x200m freestyle relay) and
Kara Dziadek (4x100m freestyle relay).
Howe and Dupre broke school records in the 50m free, and 200 backstroke (short course) earlier this year, and will certainly be two to keep an eye on during nationals.
The 50m free on the women's side is also a loaded event for Manitoba. Along with Howe, Schanel is seeded 22nd in the event, and Fillion is ranked 23rd.
Fillion, a captain for Manitoba, showcased her range all year, hitting qualifying standards in the 50 and 100 free, 200 freestyle and 50 fly.
On the men's side, the breastroke event is well represented by the Herd. Notably, Doan -- a true freshman -- along with Unrau and Kostelnyk all have top 25 times in either the 50 or 100.
