Flames swim program continuing the climb
OMAHA, Neb. – The trajectory of the College of Saint Mary swim program continues to ascend, and the 2025-26 season should be no different.
Coach Liz Germonprez begins her second season with the Flames on Saturday when they travel to Sioux City, Iowa, to compete in the Great Plains Athletic Conference Invite.
"This team has something special,'' Germonprez said. "The practice intensity has been phenomenal. They support each other, in and out of the water. They are creating a culture of competition. I expect Flames swimming to surprise a lot of teams this year.''
CSM has 15 athletes on its roster, including some accomplished returnees.
Leading the way is junior Kylee Brown. The Council Bluffs Lewis Central graduate last season qualified for nationals in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle for the second straight year. She placed 11th in the 500 freestyle to earn honorable mention All-America honors, breaking the school record, and also took 18th in the 200 freestyle and 32nd in the 100 freestyle.
Other top returners include sophomore Isabella Promes, a sprint free specialist who had two national 'B' cuts last year, and sophomore Chloe Hale, a backstroke and IM specialist who also owned two national 'B' cuts a year ago.
Junior Naomi Huttenga swam lifetime bests in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events last year, and senior Jaidyn Vanschoiack brings great versatility to the pool each time she competes.
Two freshmen also are ready to make a big impact. Among her talents, Keira Promes already has swum a faster 50 freestyle than CSM's current school record, while Germonprez calls Grace Biddle a "Swiss Army Knife,'' as she races anything from the 50 to 1,650 free along with all strokes.
"Both Keira and Grace will make an immediate impact in individual events and will be key in relays,'' Germonprez said.
CSM competes in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference for swimming. Last year, it finished seventh in the 10-team field at the conference meet.
"I think we're going to be incredibly competitive at KCAC this season,'' said Germonprez, who is assisted by Maddy Craig. "Our relays will be racing for podium as well as school records, and we'll have a number of athletes poised to place individually in championship finals who didn't quite make the cut last season.''