CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Results of the 2023-24 American Rivers Conference Men's Swim & Dive Preseason Poll (as voted on by the league's head coaches):
| 2023-24 American Rivers Conference Men's Swim & Dive Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| Rank |
School (1st place votes) |
Points |
2023 Championship Finish |
| 1. |
Luther (4) |
16 |
Conference Champions |
| 2. |
Nebraska Wesleyan (1) |
13 |
2nd |
| 3. |
Loras |
10 |
3rd |
| 4. |
Simpson |
7 |
4th |
| 5. |
Coe |
4 |
5th |
The Luther College Norse are the coaches' choice to win the 2023 American Rivers Conference Men's Swim & Dive title. The Norse were last season's inaugural conference champions and were chosen first on four ballots (coaches do not vote on their own team) and earned 16 points to earn the No. 1 ranking.
Nebraska Wesleyan garnered 13 points in the poll and received one first-place vote. Loras debuts at No. 3 in the coaches' poll, earning 10 points, and Simpson picked up 7 points to put them at the No. 4 spot. The Kohawks tallied 4 points to round out the poll.
The Schedule: The first appearance in the pool this season will be Loras, Nebraska Wesleyan, and Simpson. The Duhawks will compete at Ripon College while the Prairie Wolves and Storm will see each other at the Spire Relays in Leavenworth, Kansas. The Norse return to the pool on October 21 when they head to Indianola to face A-R-C opponents, Simpson and Nebraska Wesleyan. The Kohawks begin their season against Cornell on October 27.
The A-R-C Swim & Dive Championship will take place on Thursday, February 22 through Saturday, February 24 in Decorah, Iowa at Luther College.
| 1st |
|
Luther College
Head Coach: Aaron Zander (5th Season)
2023 Conference Finish: 1st
Swimmers Returning: 18
Divers Returning: 2
All-Conference Returning: Jack Bell (Jr.), Kevin Kretz (Jr.), Nico Shrestha (Jr.), Jake Walz (Jr.), Gabe Armstrong (So.), Drew Chamberlain (So.), Colin Halverson (So.), Brock Ohlensehlen (So.)
All-Conference Lost: None
Aaron Zander - "The 2022-23 year was a year of attrition with our lineup rarely all healthy or all together, yet we reached our goal of repeating as champions. The 2023-2024 team starts in a different place, and while we patiently await and cheer on a pair of athletes competing in fall sports who will join us in the months ahead, our roster looks stronger in many areas with another year of experience for our tremendous returning classes. We're also excited to have Ben Bridges return from a year of nursing classes and practicums in Rochester at the Mayo Clinic. The ethos and mentality around our team is to keep supporting each other and driving towards personal and team goals including a fourth consecutive championship season." |
| Players to Watch: (Returners Only) |
2023 Notes |
| Kevin Kretz (Jr.) |
A-R-C Swimmer of the Meet; 50-Free, 100-Free, 200-Free A-R-C Champion |
| Brock Ohlensehlen (So.) |
500-free and 1650-free A-R-C Champion |
| Colin Halverson (So.) |
A-R-C Diver of the Meet; NCAA Regional Qualifier |
| Jack Bell (Jr.) |
NCAA Regional Qualifier |
| Nico Shrestha (Jr.) |
50-free and 100-free A-R-C Runner-Up |
| Drew Chamberlain (So.) |
200-free A-R-C Runner-Up |
| Jake Walz (Jr.) |
1650-free A-R-C Runner-Up |
| Gabe Armstrong (So.) |
200-breaststroke A-R-C Runner-Up |
| 2nd |
|
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Head Coach: Kyle Hunt (4th Season)
2023 Conference Finish: 2nd
Swimmers Returning: 13
All-Conference Returning: Cael Dice (Sr.), Sam Kelly (Sr.), Eli Gosnell (Sr.), Louis Gilmore (Jr.), Matthew Crossman (Jr.), Kai Trotman (So.), Gabe Patton (So.), Burke Lauseng (So.)
All-Conference Lost: None
Kyle Hunt - "Strong upperclass of men will be bolstered by a top shelf recruiting class. Team must gel if we are to compete at a higher level than last season." |
| Players to Watch: (Returners Only) |
2023 Notes |
| Cael Dice (Sr.) |
100-Fly and 100-Backstroke A-R-C Champion |
| Sam Kelly (Sr.) |
200-Fly and 400 IM A-R-C Champion |
| Louis Gilmore (Jr.) |
NWU Captain |
| Burke Lauseng (So.) |
NWU Captain |
| Eli Gosnell (Sr.) |
200-Back and Sprints |
| Matthew Crossman (Jr.) |
100-Breaststroke A-R-C Champion |
| 3rd |
|
Loras College
Head Coach: Nick Wyllie (5th Season)
2023 Conference Finish: 3rd
Swimmers Returning: 12
Divers Returning: 2
All-Conference Returning: Caden Gillmore (So.), Noah James (Sr.), Austin Jorgensen (Jr.), Gannon Harrington (Sr.), Brian Day (Sr.), Joseph Kock (So.), Connor Smith (So.)
All-Conference Lost: Charles Holmes (Sr.)
Nick Wyllie - "We keep improving year after year and this year is no exception. We have a lot of talent returning and were able to add to the depth with freshman that will have an immediate impact." |
| Players to Watch: (Returners Only) |
2023 Notes |
| Caden Gillmore (So.) |
Third fastest 500-free; Fourth fastest 100-free; Sixth fastest 100-fly |
| Brad LaGrange (Sr.) |
Third fastest 100-free; Fifth fastest 50-free and 200-free |
| Brian Day (Sr.) |
Fourth fastest 100-breaststroke and 200-breaststroke; 11th fastest 200 IM |
| Gannon Harrington (Sr.) |
1M and 3M A-R-C Third Place Finisher |
| Payton Markowski (Sr.) |
Fifth fastest 100-breaststroke; Seventh fastest 200-breaststroke and 200 IM |
| Joseph Kock (So.) |
Fifth fastest 100-back; Ninth fastest 200-back and 100-fly |
| Connor Smith (So.) |
Seventh fastest 400 IM; Tenth fastest 200-breaststroke; 13th fastest 500-free |
| Noah James (Sr.) |
Third fastest 200-fly; 12th fastest 100-fly |
| 4th |
|
Simpson College
Head Coach: Adam Cvetich (3rd Season)
2023 Conference Finish: 4th
Swimmers Returning: 4
Divers Returning: 0
All-Conference Returning: None
All-Conference Lost: None
Adam Cvetich - "Small but mighty. The men's team just finished a season boasting absolutely HUGE time drops filled with personal bests. They've nabbed their first school record in the past five years recording a record in the 800 Free Relay and were able to record their first dual meet win in the last ten years. There is a general excitement around this season, and they are poised to start taking down individual records. We're a small team, but don't shy away from big competition and are ready for some great races against the rest of the A-R-C." |
| Players to Watch: (Returners Only) |
2023 Notes |
| Jay Ceperley (Jr.) |
50-Free and 100-Free A-R-C B-Finalist |
| Gabe Bruns (So.) |
100-Free A-R-C B-Finalist |
| Christopher Olds (So.) |
200-Free A-R-C B-Finalist; 1650-Free Ninth Place Finish |
| 5th |
|
Coe College
Head Coach: Joe Tristan (1st Season)
2023 Conference Finish: 5th
Swimmers Returning: 1
Divers Returning: 0
All-Conference Returning: None
All-Conference Lost: Luke Baldwin, Zach Kolker
Adam Cvetich - "I am looking forward to a great season." |
| Players to Watch: (Returners Only) |
2023 Notes |
| Carter Tredway (Sr.) |
Consolation Finalist 100-Back |
