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The Cal State East Bay swim team will have six representatives at the 2017 NCAA Division II Championships, taking place March 8-11 in Birmingham, Ala.

This marks the first time since the 2013-14 season that CSUEB will compete at the national championship meet. That year, the Pioneers sent a program-record six swimmers to NCAAs and finished in 15th place as a team.

The 2016-17 squad has matched that number. Junior Morgan McClure qualified in the 200-yard individual medley, 400 IM and 200 backstroke. Senior Mariam Lowe qualified in the 100 and 200 backstroke. Junior Claire Beaty qualified in the 200 backstroke. That trio will be joined by senior Madison Hauanio, sophomore Vivy Hua, and junior Shelby Parker, who will compete in relays at the four-day event.

"I am proud of these women, who have worked so hard to achieve their goal of qualifying for the national championships," said first-year head coach Shane Pelton. "To have three individual qualifiers and a total of six athletes traveling to the meet is an incredible step forward for this program."

The Pioneers are coming off an outstanding showing at the 2016-17 Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference Championships, placing third despite not fielding a diving team. It marked the fifth straight top-three finish for East Bay at conference championships. Overall, seven school records fell during the week. McClure also captured individual titles in the 100 IM, 200 IM, and 400 IM, while Lowe took home the PCSC title in the 100 backstroke. McClure finished tied for the most points scored by any swimmer at the championship meet.

"It is fitting that the three individual qualifiers for NCAAs are also our three captains, but they weren't selected as captains for just their talent," Pelton said. “These three women lead in every way imaginable and have worked incredibly hard to earn their qualifications.”

He added that they are excited to prove themselves at the meet.

“I know they're extremely excited, as this is a first for almost all of them, but we will not be satisfied by just qualifying for the meet,” Pelton said. “These women have a lot of racing left in the tank and are ready to swim at even a higher level in Birmingham.”