Northern Michigan University's Ondrej Zach swims during a meet last October at the school's PEIF pool. (Photo courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams open their regular season in Minnesota against St. Cloud State today and Saturday.

The Wildcat women are the defending GLIAC champions, scoring 846.5 points at the GLIAC Meet as Heidi Voigt was named Women’s Coach of the Year and now-sophomore Heidi Billings the Female Freshman of the Year.

The NMU men were second at their conference championships.

Last season, NMU hosted a double dual against St. Cloud and Davenport as both the Northern men and women swept each opponent.

The Wildcats have several All-American returners, led by men’s senior Ondrej Zach, who won the NCAA Division II national title in the 1,650-yard freestyle as a junior.

Junior teammates Erikas Kapocius and Roberto Camera also earned All-American status at the national finals.

For the women, Northern’s 800 free relay swam a school record 7 minutes, 26.37 seconds at the national meet to earn All-American honors with a quartet that consisted of now-junior Michaela Nelson, sophomore Donna Hannig, junior Jenna Joerger and junior Pilar Perello Ferrer.

The Wildcats also have two dozen newcomers coming from 11 states and Uruguay.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.