Denver was tabbed the preseason favorite to defend its Summit League Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship titles in a vote of the league’s head coaches.
Denver finished atop the men’s poll with five first-place votes after sweeping the individual swimming events at last year’s championships. The Pioneers are led by four individual league champions, including three multiple-event winners in Dylan Bunch (200 free, 500 free, 1,650 free), Kyle Robrock (50 free, 100 free), Jeremiah Zgliczynski (200 IM, 400 IM) and Andrew Torres (200 fly). Bunch, the 2014 Summit League Men’s Swimmer of the Year, earned honorable mention All-America honors a year ago, after finishing 12th in the 1,650 free at the 2014 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships.
After matching a program-best runner-up finish at last year’s league championship, IUPUI was picked second and received the final first-place tally. The Jaguars are led by defending 3-meter diving champion Cody Watts. Watts swept the 2014 Men’s Diver of the Year and Diving Championship MVP awards.
South Dakota State took third in the poll and welcomes back Connor Florand, the reigning men’s 1-meter diving champion. Florand set the league record in both the men’s 1-meter and 3-meter dives at the 2014 Summit League Championships.
Rounding out the men’s poll were South Dakota in fourth, followed by Western Illinois and Eastern Illinois in fifth and sixth, respectively.
In the women’s poll, Denver captured the top spot with six first-place tallies. The Pioneers welcome back six swimmers with individual league crowns, including four multiple-event champions. Leading the way is All-American Samantha Corea, who finished seventh in the 200 back and ninth in the 100 fly at the 2014 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships. She became the highest-placing female swimmer in Summit League and DU history at the NCAA Championships. Corea, the 2014 Summit League Women’s Swimmer of the Year and Swimming Championship MVP, won three individual league championships (100 fly, 100 back, 200 back) last year. Also returning for the Pioneers are Drew Matthews (50 free, 100 free), Bridgette McNally (500 free, 400 IM), Clara Jenck (1,650 free, 200 IM), Morgan Mullenix (200 free) and Amanda Sanders (100 breast).
South Dakota State edged out IUPUI by one point to finish second and received the final first-place vote. The Jackrabbits return the defending 200 breast league champion and Co-Newcomer of the Championship in Emily Campbell.
Omaha came in fourth with two points separating them from the Jaguars in third. The Mavericks are led by Morgan Stepp, last year’s 200 fly league champion.
South Dakota, Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois round out the final three spots in the women’s poll. Leading the way for the Coyotes is multiple-event champion Greysen Hertting. Hertting, the 2014 Summit League Women’s Diver of the Year and Diving Championship MVP, swept the 1-meter and 3-meter dives at the league meet.
The season culminates with The Summit League Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 18-21, 2015.
College Swimming News courtesy of The Summit League.