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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 25 • 27 — but even if I don't, it's just really, really nice to be back." Sheets and Fogle are joined by Francesca Marr (No. 27 in the 200 breastroke) and Allie Davis (No. 26 in the 200 free). Marr was able to qualify thanks to a season-best time in the 200 breast at the Boiler-Make-It NCAA Last Chance Meet, shaving more than a full second off her previous season best. "It's the most individual qualifi - ers since I've been here," Sheets said. "We've had bigger groups go, but more individual qualifiers means more opportunities to score. All the girls that qualified individually and on relays, it wasn't by accident. It was clear all season how bad they wanted it. I expect nothing to change in Greensboro." Two freshmen will join the list of upperclassmen at the NCAA Cham- pionships. Kaersten Meitz, Purdue's first freshman individual qualifier since Sheets in 2012, is ranked No. 29 in the 1650 free and No. 31 in the 500 free, an event she holds the school record in. Her former high school team- mate Abby Jagdfeld, who set Purdue freshman records in the 100 and 200 free this season, will compete on the 800 free relay team. "We have some upperclass- men that have been to the meet a couple times now and can really bring some leadership," Klinge said. "I think that combination — having young people who have been there and scored and having a group of younger swimmers that bring some more excitement — will really help." Fogle said Jagdfeld and Meitz have been key cogs in Purdue's suc- cess this season, as evident in their combined 30 individual points at the Big Ten Championships. "This fresh- man group has made the transition really easy," Fogle said. "They're easy to swim, they work hard, it seems like they're very coachable. It's really helped our dynamic in all aspects in and out of the pool." Not only does Purdue bring a high number of individuals to the NCAA Champi- onships, but one of the best 800 free relay teams in the nation as well. Purdue's program-record time of 7:03.15 is the No. 11 mark in the coun- try with Jagdfeld, Nika Karlina Petric, Davis and Sheets. "Our 800 free relay has a very good chance of scoring and becoming All-Americans," Fogle said. "That's something that we're capable of. If you make the top 16, you're automatically an All-Ameri- can. That's the end goal." After seeing the Boiler- makers set eight program records and score in every individual event but one at the Big Ten Championships, Sheets said she expects an- other strong performance in Greensboro. "In terms of Big Ten competition, we definitely made a huge step up," Sheets said. "The NCAA meet is pretty much any- body's game. "You see times all over the place with the double taper a lot of people are go- ing for. I think our team is ready to take that chal- lenge and I can definitely see some people sneaking into some scoring heats and moving up even further." j Seven Purdue swimmers qualified for the NCAA Championships in Greensboro, N.C., Thursday-Saturday. Previous NCAA Name Events appearances Rhiannon Sheets 200 Free, 200 Fly, 800 Free Relay 3 Kaersten Meitz 1650 Free, 500 Free, 200 Free 0 Allie Davis 1650 Free, 200 Free, 800 Free Relay 2 Francesca Marr 200 Breast, 100 Breast, 200 IM 1 Emily Fogle 200 Breast, 100 Breast 2 Abby Jagdfeld 800 Free Relay 0 Nika Karlina Petric 800 Free Relay 0 Links Baseball pours it on Northern Illinois Snyder strikes out 12 to finish perfect weekend Burkhardt sets steals record in victory Three senior divers qualify for NCAA zones Purdue Emily Fogle returns to the NCAAs after a two-year hiatus.