CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The six-time national champion Queens University of Charlotte triathlon team will kick off its 2022 season this weekend as a Division I member following the Royals' reclassification to NCAA DI as an institution over the summer.
 
"Having been a foundational piece of the NCAA triathlon movement as an emerging sport since 2015, we're excited by the challenge to compete at D1 now during the Fall 2022 varsity season," Queens Director of Triathlon Sonni Dyer stated.
 
The Royals will open at the East Tennessee State University Aquathlon on Saturday, Sept. 3. They will then compete in the 2022 Cal Tri Charlotte being held at Lake Norman on Sept. 25 before looking to defend their East Region Championship title on Oct. 15 at Smith Mountain Lake. The Women's Triathlon Collegiate National Championship will then return to Tempe, Ariz., on Nov. 12.
 
Queens returns three members from last season's national championship squad in Natalie Bash, Hannah Moloney, and Sam McInnes. Additionally, Franca Henseleit and Kira Ribbink joined the team as spring transfers from. Seven of the remaining eight members on this season are entering the 2022 season as freshmen while Natalia Hidalgo Martinez will enter as a transfer. Bash, Hidalgo Martinez, McInnes, Moloney, and Ribbink were all named CTCA All-Americans falling the 2021 National Championship. Read more about the incoming class here.  
 
"We've always had a top three Olympic and elite development centric program," Dyer added. "Now we have the ability to race for the podium that aligns with that shared team focus. The team is ready."


Be sure to follow the Royals triathlon program on Instagram to stay up to date on all the latest news surrounding the team. Fans are also encouraged to follow Queens Athletics to stay updated on all the Royals sports teams in action by searching @QueensAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.