CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Results of the 2023-24 American Rivers Conference Women's Swim & Dive Preseason Poll (as voted on by the league's head coaches):
| 2023-24 American Rivers Conference Women'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. |
Coe |
10 |
3rd |
| 4. |
Simpson |
7 |
4th |
| 5. |
Loras |
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. Coe 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 Duhawks 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: 19
Divers Returning: 4
All-Conference Returning: McKenna Prunty (Sr.), Maddie Shea (Sr.), Anna Barbknecht (Jr.), Maia Bumgardner (Jr.), Ella Marti (Jr.), Erin McGrath (Jr.), Nev Nelson (Jr.), Ella Rowley (Jr.), Lori Ostermeier (So.), Cassie Rounds (So.)
All-Conference Lost: Anna Thomley
Aaron Zander - "We return the core of our championship team from last year and are very excited by our incoming first year group, who have already turned some heads in practice and grown into our team culture quickly. Look for them to make a splash in the months ahead. Very excited as we begin the 2023-2024 year ahead and ecstatic about the chemistry we've already built with our returning group and newcomers!" |
| Players to Watch: (Returners Only) |
2023 Notes |
| Maddie Shea (Sr.) |
1650 A-R-C Champion (17:56.01) |
| Nev Nelson (Jr.) |
200 Free Relay A-R-C Champion (1:39.08); 3rd Place - 50 Free; 4th Place - 100 Fly & 100 Free |
| Maia Bumgardner (Jr.) |
200 Free Relay A-R-C Champion (1:39.08); Runner-Up - 200 Free; 3rd Place - 1650; 4th Place - 500 |
| Lori Ostermeier (So.) |
200 Free Relay A-R-C Champion (1:39.08) |
| Cassie Rounds (So.) |
200 Free Relay A-R-C Champion (1:39.08); 50-Free, 100-Fly, 100-Free Runner-Up |
| Ella Rowley (Jr.) |
1M - 382.70; 3M - 399.50 |
| 2nd |
|
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Head Coach: Kyle Hunt (4th Season)
2023 Conference Finish: 2nd
Swimmers Returning: 12
All-Conference Returning: Ava Hunt (Jr.), Lili Spady (So.), Sam Fox (So.), Elena Lazzaretto (So.), Angelina Orent (So.), Ciara Wookey (So.)
All-Conference Lost: None
Aaron Zander - "Strong upperclass of women 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 |
| Ava Hunt (Jr.) |
100 Breast A-R-C Champion |
| Angelina Orent (So.) |
Sprints |
| Elena Lazzaretto (So.) |
200 Back A-R-C Champion |
| Ciara Wookey (So.) |
200 Fly A-R-C Champion |
| 3rd |
|
Coe College
Head Coach: Joe Tristan (1st Season)
2022 Conference Finish: 3rd
Swimmers Returning: 10
Divers Returning: 1
All-Conference Returning: Margaret Rhodes (So.), Natalie Thede (Sr.), Valerie Gutierrez (So.), Megan Norris (Sr.)
All-Conference Lost: Izzy Craig, Lauren Pio
Aaron Zander - "I am looking forward to a great season." |
| Players to Watch: (Returners Only) |
2023 Notes |
| Margaret Rhodes (So.) |
A-R-C Swimmer of the Year; 3x A-R-C Champion |
| Natalie Thede (Sr.) |
800 Relay A-R-C Champion |
| Valerie Gutierrez (So.) |
All-A-R-C Relay Member |
| Megan Norris (Sr.) |
A-R-C Diver of the Year; A-R-C 1M and 3M Champion |
| 4th |
|
Simpson College
Head Coach: Adam Cvetich (3rd Season)
2022 Conference Finish: 4th
Swimmers Returning: 6
Divers Returning: 0
All-Conference Returning: Kate Minette (Jr.)
All-Conference Lost: None
Adam Cvetich - "Extremely excited about the returners and the first-year student-athletes we have coming in. We've put in the work and created a successful atmosphere and culture that has allowed our team to grow. We've got an outstanding core group of freestylers and butterfliers returning with an incoming group that can showcase other areas of versatility. The team brings unmatched energy and enthusiasm and we're ready to show everyone the type of team we are." |
| Players to Watch: (Returners Only) |
2023 Notes |
| Katie Oosterhuis (Sr.) |
50-Free and 100-Free A-R-C Finalist; 100-Fly A-R-C B Finalist |
| Kate Minette (Jr.) |
50-Free and 200-Free A-R-C Champion; 100-Free 2nd Place |
| Bre Hinson (Jr.) |
50-Free, 100-Free, 100-Fly A-R-C B Finalist |
| Katelyn Smith (Jr.) |
200 Free A-R-C Finalist |
| Keelin Curley (Jr.) |
50-Free A-R-C B Finalist |
| Maude Steinbeck (Jr.) |
100-Breast, 200-Breast A-R-C B Finalist |
| 5th |
|
Loras College
Head Coach: Nick Wyllie (5th Season)
2022 Conference Finish: 5th
Swimmers Returning: 9
Divers Returning: 0
All-Conference Returning: Emma Pajtash (So.), Molly Strohmeyer (Jr.), Annie Quinn (Sr.)
All-Conference Lost: Nina Schiro
Nick Wyllie - "We have a great group of leaders returning this year to help guide a large and very talented freshman class. We have depth across events we have not had in the past and I am excited to see it play out." |
| Players to Watch: (Returners Only) |
2023 Notes |
| Annie Quinn (Sr.) |
Seventh fastest 50-Free in A-R-C |
| Molly Strohmeyer (Jr.) |
Eighth fastest 100-Fly in A-R-C |
| Emma Pajtash (So.) |
Eight fastest 100-Breast and Ninth fastest 200-Breast in A-R-C |
| Elliana Stine (Sr.) |
Seventh fastest 200-Back in A-R-C |
| Laney Edgeton (So.) |
Tenth fastest 200-Back in A-R-C |
