By: Anthony Moscaret, External Communications Assistant
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado Mesa University is picked to capture the 2026-27 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship, as chosen by the league’s head coaches in the 2026-27 Preseason Coaches’ Poll, which was released Thursday in conjunction with the 2026-27 All-RMAC Women’s Swimming & Diving Preseason Team.
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
2026-27 Preseason Women's Swimming
& Diving Coaches’ Poll
|
| PL |
Team |
1sts |
2nds |
3rds |
Points |
| 1. |
Colorado Mesa |
8 |
– |
– |
64 |
| 2. |
Colorado School of Mines |
1 |
7 |
– |
57 |
| 3. |
Simon Fraser |
– |
2 |
6 |
50 |
| 4. |
Oklahoma Christian |
– |
– |
3 |
43 |
| 5. |
Western Colorado |
– |
– |
– |
36 |
| 6. |
CSU Pueblo |
– |
– |
– |
24 |
|
Nebraska-Kearney |
– |
– |
– |
24 |
| 7. |
Texas Permian Basin |
– |
– |
– |
19 |
| 8. |
Adams State |
– |
– |
– |
7 |
Notes:
Head coaches were not permitted to vote for their team.
8 points for a 1st-place vote, 7 for 2nd, etc.
64 points maximum in men’s swimming & diving |
Colorado Mesa tallied eight first-place votes to total 64 points, while Colorado School of Mines claimed the remaining first-place vote and seven second-place votes for 57 points to come in second. Simon Fraser University was picked third (50 points), followed by Oklahoma Christian University (43 points), Western Colorado (36 points), CSU Pueblo (24 points), Nebraska-Kearney (24 points), Texas Permian Basin University (19 points), and Adams State University (seven points).
The Mavericks dominated the 16-event preseason team, which recognizes the top returning athletes in each championship event at the 2026 RMAC Championship. Colorado Mesa has seven top finishers returning this season, with Melina Giraudeau being a two-time champion leading the pack. She is joined by Taylar Hooton and Abby Uhl, who each claimed titles at last year's championship meet.
The 2026-27 swimming and diving season is already underway but begins in earnest this weekend with four programs competing. All six RMAC teams are beginning their build-up to the 2026-27 RMAC Swimming & Diving Championships set for Feb. 9-13 at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction.
All RMAC swimming & diving competitions broadcast by its full and associate members will only be available via pay-per-view on the RMAC Network. Revenue generated by the network will be redistributed to the league’s members to enhance their programs.
Fans can purchase a $25 Monthly Pass that provides the same access as the All-Access Pass. Single-game passes are available for $12.50 and grant access to a single game or event for 24 hours.
Additionally, a discounted annual subscription price will be available to students, faculty, and staff of each member institution throughout the year. Those fans can use their institutional email address with the code Y27-RMACEDU at any time during the 2026-27 season.
2026-27 Preseason All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference: Women's Swimming & Diving
|
| Event |
Top Returnee |
School |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| 50 Free |
Vanessa Weatherford (1) |
Oklahoma Christian |
Jr. |
New Braunfels, Texas |
| 100 Free |
Vanessa Weatherford (1) |
Oklahoma Christian |
Jr. |
New Braunfels, Texas |
| 200 Free |
Hanna Sasivarevic (1) |
Colorado Mesa |
Sr. |
Sandy, Utah |
| 500 Free |
Keira Kennedy (1) |
Simon Fraser |
Jr. |
Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| 1,000 Free |
Keira Kennedy (1) |
Simon Fraser |
Jr. |
Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| 1,650 Free |
Keira Kennedy (1) |
Simon Fraser |
Jr. |
Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| 100 Back |
Taylar Hooton (1) |
Colorado Mesa |
Jr. |
Salt Lake City, Utah |
| 200 Back |
Abby Uhl (1) |
Colorado Mesa |
So. |
Crystal Lake, Ill. |
| 100 Breast |
Melina Giraudeau (1) |
Colorado Mesa |
Sr. |
Biarritz, France |
| 200 Breast |
Melina Giraudeau (1) |
Colorado Mesa |
Sr. |
Biarritz, France |
| 100 Fly |
Vanessa Weatherford (1) |
Oklahoma Christian |
Jr. |
New Braunfels, Texas |
| 200 Fly |
Mikaela Khan (1) |
Colorado School of Mines |
So. |
Spring, Texas |
| 200 IM |
Anna Bream (1, FotY) |
|
So. |
Lawrence, Kan. |
| 400 IM |
|
|
So. |
|
| 1m Dive |
Talia Datilio (1) |
Colorado Mesa |
Sr. |
Mesa, Ariz. |
| 3m Dive |
Talia Datilio (1) |
Colorado Mesa |
Sr. |
Mesa, Ariz. |
| Symbols in parentheses are 2025-26 All-RMAC Recognitions: Yellow background indicates a returning RMAC champion (or co-champion) in that event; PotY – was a Player of the Year at their position group; FotY – was a Freshman of the Year at their position group; 1 -was a First Team All-RMAC finisher in the event; 2 - was a Second Team All-RMAC finisher in the event. |
About the RMAC
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, headquartered in Colorado Springs, is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 institutions located in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. The RMAC currently competes in 22 NCAA Division II sports and has earned 67 national championships and 53 national runners-up since 1992. Founded in 1909, the RMAC is the most historic athletic conference in the western United States and Division II.
# EverythingElevated #