COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - California Baptist is selected as the favorite in both the Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving 2017-18 Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
The poll is voted on by all Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) head coaches (five on the men’s side, nine as the women’s side). Coaches award points to each team except for their own.
On the men’s side, California Baptist tallied 15 points, including three first place votes. Last year, the Lancers came in second at the RMAC championship. In the post-season, California Baptist placed 12
th at the NCAA Division II Championships, earning a combined 25 All-American Honors (21 individual, four relay).
Oklahoma Baptist and Colorado Mesa tie for second in the Coaches’ Poll with 12 points and one first place vote each.
The Bison were in their third and final provisionary year in the NCAA, thus they were not eligible for NCAA postseason. They placed third at the RMAC Championships and first at the Central Section Region VIII Spring Sectionals.
The Mavericks were the RMAC champions last year, beating second-place California Baptist by 33.5 points. The team placed 17
th at nationals, earning several All-American Honors.
Colorado Mines takes fourth place with seven points in the Coaches’ Poll. They took fourth at the RMAC Championships with 508 points.
New associate RMAC member Oklahoma Christian received four points, finishing in fifth place. The 2017-18 season is the first official season for the Eagles’ Swimming & Diving program.
On the women’s side, California Baptist earned 63 points and seven first place votes as the favorite in the Coaches’ Poll. The Lancers took first place at last year’s RMAC Championships and 14
th place at the NCAA Division II Championships.
Colorado Mesa takes second place with 55 points and one first place vote. The Mavericks placed second at the 2016-17 RMAC Championships and 22
nd place at nationals.
Oklahoma Baptist finishes in third place with 49 points. The Bison took third at the RMAC Championships and 11
th at the Central Section Region VIII Spring Sectionals.
In fourth place is Colorado School of Mines with 43 points. The Orediggers finished in fourth place at the RMAC Championships. Last season’s RMAC Women’s Swimming & Diving Freshman of the Year Mia Wood earned an All-American Honorable Mention in the 1,000 free at nationals.
Western takes fifth place with 28 points in the Coaches’ Poll. The Mountaineers finished fifth at the RMAC Championships. Randi Yarnell, last year’s RMAC Women’s Swimmer of the Year, swam at the NCAA Division II Championship. Diver Jessica Anderson participated in the zone meet, the prequalification event for nationals, but did not move on.
Oklahoma Christian received 26 points to place sixth in the poll.
Tied for seventh are Adams State and CSU-Pueblo with 25 points. The Grizzlies received one first-place vote.
Adams State finished in seventh at the RMAC Championships last season.
CSU-Pueblo took sixth place at the RMAC Championships. Stefany Busch made school history as the first diver to compete in the NCAA National Diving Prequalification Meet but did not advance to nationals.
In ninth place is Nebraska-Kearney with 10 points. The Lopers will look to come back from a last place finish at last year’s RMAC Championships, tallying 141 points.