Minnesota State University-Mankato Women's Swimming

Owens also directs seasonal Swim Camps for youth and age-group swimmers as well as clinics for adult swimmers and triathletes. Prior to coaching at Minnesota State, Owens served as an assistant coach for Texas Christian University (TCU) and helped guide the Horned Frogs to back-to-back Conference USA titles in 2002 & 2003. He also served as a Head Coach at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis., from 2000-2002. Prior to his appointment at St. Norbert, Owens served as the Head Coach for Wausau East High School in Wausau, Wis. In the summer of 2000, Owens coached the Wausau Tide Swimming Club and helped to produce one Olympic trials qualifier. Owens swam at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point from 1996-1999 where he earned his bachelors degree in Business Administration.  He received his masters degree in Kinesiology from Texas Christian University in 2004.  Owens resides in North Mankato, MN with his wife Lindsey and their two children Eli and Vivian. Swim Program Description: The team's training philosophy is straight forward, simple, and designed to produce results. In short, the mavericks train like they compete. In practice, this translates to high quality training over training volume. Important aspects of the training program include weight lifting and dry land exercises that are designed to make each individual a better all-round athlete. In addition, race specific and event specific training methods are used to maximize peak performance. Many workouts are in small groups and include race pace training, race simulation, along with ample recovery time. The Women's Swimming & Diving program has steadily improved in recent years and looks to continue that trend. The coaches are searching for highly motivated and competitive athletes to continue to build a nationally competitive program. Optimistic about the future of the program, Coach Owens explains "We have a bright future.  The Womens Swimming & Diving program is well funded and supported. Our coaching staff has the experience and the desire to help our program reach a new level of success. Our focus is to recruit highly motivated women that are hard working and love to compete. In addition, the Division II model here at Minnesota State allows student-athletes to find a positive balance between their respective sport, their education, and the other important aspects of life. This philosophy also allows our student-athletes to maintain a balance between their course work, family, athletic, and social life. Academic success is paramount. The Womens Swimming and Diving Programs has been recognized by achieving Academic All-American status on a regular basis. Top five reasons to become a Maverick Cumulative Team GPA Above 3.25 A great campus in a great community Over 150 majors offered in a supportive academic environment A dynamic training program that builds team unity The BEST training trip in the country! Head Coach Nathan Owens is entering his 12th season with the Minnesota State Women's Swimming and Diving Team. During his tenure, the Swimming & Diving team has produced many top performers in the  program's history. Owens has helped rewrite the program's record books by coaching 19 of the 19 school record holders which includes all individuals and relay teams. In addition, Owens coached many athletes  on the program's all time top-10 list. Owens has led the Mavericks to 9 post-season appearances in 11 years and led the program to finsish in the  top-25 Nationally six times. Since 2004, Owens has coached over 40 individual athletes to over 130 All-American honors and produced U.S. and Canadian Olympic trials qualifiers.

Kaeter is in her fourth season as an assistant coach for Minnesota State during the 2015-2016 season. Kaeter joined the Maverick coaching staff 4 years ago after a career as a swimmer with Minnesota State.   Kaeter, who graduated from Minnesota State in 2011 with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology, is also a member of MSUs adjunct faculty. She is a 'Learn to Swim with the Mavericks' instructor and has served as a swimming coach for the Greater Omaha Aquatic Club.   Kaeter is working on her masters degree in sports psychology. Sophie Kaeter Assistant Coach, Women's Swimming Sophie Kaeter is in her fourth season as an assistant coach for Minnesota State during the 2015-2016 season. Kaeter joined the Maverick coaching staff 4 years ago after a career as a swimmer with Minnesota State.   Kaeter, who graduated from Minnesota State in 2011 with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology, is also a member of MSUs adjunct faculty. She is a 'Learn to Swim with the Mavericks' instructor and has served as a swimming coach for the Greater Omaha Aquatic Club.   Kaeter is working on her masters degree in sports psychology.

Smith enters her first year with the Maverick Swimming & Diving program as the graduate assistant coach and will be completing her master's degree in educational leadership. Prior to Minnesota State, Smith was an assistant coach for the Monticello Muskies Swim Club in the spring and summer of 2015, developing season practices, running dryland circuit sets, and overseeing competitions. Before working with the Muskies, Smith coached with the Nova Southeastern Sharks for the 2014-2015 season. At NSU, Smith delivered and facilitated practices for the distance swimmers, and worked as the team's operations assistant organizing team travel, equipment orders, Shark Invite meet operations, and coordinating the team's volunteer event with the Ironman 70.3 Miami race. Preceding NSU, Smith was an assistant coach for the Becker Bulldogs in the 2013 season. From 2013-2014 she was the assistant coach for the Sea Devils swim club and ran summer swim camps as head coach through the Becker High School. Smith's collegiate swimming career began here at Minnesota State, Mankato in 2009. During two seasons with the Mavericks, Smith received multiple team awards that included Most Improved, Hardest Worker, and the Coaches Award. She transferred to Nova Southeastern University in 2011 and finished her remaining two years of eligibility competing in the distance, mid-distance, and sprint freestyle events. At NSU, Smith received the Coaches Award in 2011 and 2012. In May of 2013 Smith graduated from NSU with a bachelor's degree in marketing, and minor in leadership.