Truman State University Athletics

The 2004 Truman State University Women's Swimming Team completed one of the greatest championship runs in NCAA Division II history, capturing its fourth consecutive national championship and cementing the Bulldogs' status as the dominant program in collegiate swimming.

Under second-year head coach Colleen Murphy, Truman successfully defended its national title despite graduating one of the most accomplished senior classes in program history the previous season. The Bulldogs entered the NCAA Division II Championships in Buffalo, New York, seeking an unprecedented fourth straight championship, but unlike the dominant victories of 2002 and 2003, the 2004 title would require determination, depth, and a remarkable closing performance.

Truman faced its toughest championship challenge in several years. After two days of competition, the Bulldogs trailed Drury by five points and held only a six-point lead entering the final day. Facing a Drury squad that had defeated Truman during the regular season and won five individual national titles at the NCAA Championships, the Bulldogs responded with a spectacular final day to secure the championship.

When competition concluded, Truman had accumulated 641 points, defeating runner-up Drury by 80 points and claiming the program's fourth consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship. UC San Diego finished third with 478 points.

The defining characteristic of the 2004 team was depth. While Drury captured five individual national titles compared to Truman's one, every member of the Bulldogs' 18-swimmer national championship roster scored points and earned All-America honors. For the second consecutive season, every Truman swimmer competing at nationals finished among the top 16 in at least one event, a remarkable accomplishment that showcased the depth and balance of the program.

Freshman Lija Kaleps-Clark supplied Truman's lone individual national championship by winning the 200-yard backstroke in 2:02.40. Kaleps-Clark quickly emerged as one of the nation's top swimmers, earning four individual All-America honors with additional top-five finishes in the 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard individual medley, and 400-yard individual medley.

The Bulldogs overwhelmed the competition in relay events. Truman won three of the five relays contested and posted top-four finishes in the remaining two. The 200-yard medley relay team of Krista Pray, Michaela Osborn, Christina Blose, and Whitney Jensen captured a national championship in 1:43.81. Pray and Osborn also teamed with Meredith Rocha and Diana Betsworth to win the 400-yard medley relay while establishing a new NCAA Division II record of 3:47.50. Truman's third relay championship came in the 800-yard freestyle relay, where Betsworth, Rocha, Sarah Dance, and Katie May finished first in 7:32.01.

Senior leaders played an instrumental role in the championship run. Katie May concluded an outstanding career by earning four individual All-America honors, highlighted by a third-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke and fourth-place finishes in both the 1,000-yard and 1,650-yard freestyles. Team captain Krista Pray earned All-America recognition in the 100-yard backstroke while helping secure two relay national championships. Fellow captain Alison Blyth contributed crucial points with a seventh-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly.

Junior stars Diana Betsworth, Sarah Dance, and Michaela Osborn continued to fuel the dynasty. Betsworth recorded runner-up finishes in the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyles while swimming on two national championship relay teams. Dance earned seven All-America honors, including runner-up honors in the 400-yard individual medley and third-place finishes in the 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle, and 200-yard individual medley. Osborn finished third in both breaststroke events while helping two relay teams claim national titles.

The Bulldogs excelled academically as well. Diana Betsworth and Sarah Dance earned CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team honors, while numerous swimmers were recognized as CSCAA Academic All-Americans and Academic All-MIAA selections. The team's classroom success mirrored its performance in the pool and continued a tradition of academic excellence within the program.

For her leadership of the national champions, Colleen Murphy was named NCAA Division II Women's Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. The award extended Truman's remarkable streak of national coaching honors, as Bulldog head coaches had now been recognized as NCAA Division II Coach of the Year for six consecutive seasons.

The 2004 championship team closed an extraordinary chapter in Truman athletics history. From 2001 through 2004, the Bulldogs captured four consecutive NCAA Division II National Championships, won 16 individual national titles and 13 relay national championships, and established themselves as one of the premier dynasties in NCAA Division II athletics. By overcoming a dramatic championship battle and proving that depth could triumph over star power, the 2004 team secured its place among the greatest teams ever assembled at Truman State University.

2003-04 Schedule and Results

Season Summary

• Dual Meet Record: 5-3

• Central States Champions

• NCAA Division II National Champions

• NCAA Championship Score: 641 points

• Defeated Drury by 80 points at the NCAA Championships

All-Americans and Honorable Mention All-Americans

2003-04 Championship Roster

Alphabetical by Last Name