Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado Mesa leads the way with 16 points in the 2022-23 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Men's Swimming and Diving Preseason Poll, the league announced Wednesday. The Mavericks captured four of five first-place votes to earn the preseason's top spot, while Oklahoma Christian claimed the league's final first-place vote. The RMAC Men's Swimming and Diving Preseason Poll is voted on by the league's five head coaches. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their program.
 
The Mavs enter the season with 16 points after claiming the 2021-22 RMAC Men's Swimming and Diving title, marking their fourth consecutive conference championship. Among that decorated returning CMU contingent is reigning RMAC Diver of the Year and 2022 NCAA Division II 3m Dive National Champion, Isaiah Cheeks. Ben Sampson is also among a slew of Mavs returners after claiming last season's RMAC Men's Swimmer of the Year accolade.
 
Checking in at second place is Oklahoma Christian with 12 points and the league's final first-place vote. The Eagles were led last season by RMAC Men's Freshman of the Year Victor Rosado and 2022 NCAA DII 200-yard Breaststroke National Champion, JT Amrein. OC secured 22 RMAC all-conference nods last season, five relay teams. Seven student-athletes combined for the Eagles' 17 individual all-conference accolades from the 2022 RMAC Championships.
 
Colorado School of Mines captures the preseason poll's third-place spot with 11 points. The Orediggers captured 14 all-conference selections during last season's RMAC championships, including nine individuals and five relay teams. Charles Burroughs returns for his senior season at Mines after claiming a pair of first-team all-conference nods during his junior campaign.
 
University of Texas Permian Basin resides in fourth place with seven points, while Adams State rounds out preseason voting with four points.
 
The 2023 RMAC Swimming and Diving Championships will once again be held at El Pomar Natatorium in Grand Junction, Colo., beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 8. The event will span four days with closing ceremonies taking place on Saturday, Feb. 11. Tickets for the event are available for purchase on the RMAC Swimming and Diving Championships page.