Luther Women's Swimming & Diving Selected as Favorite in A-R-C Preseason Coaches' Poll

10/9/2024 11:55:00 AM

By: Ali Wilson, A-R-C Assistant Commissioner

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – After winning the 2023 and 2024 American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship, the Luther College Norse are the favorite again, as voted on by the league’s head coaches. Read below about the Norse and the entire A-R-C as we approach the first competitions. 

2024 American Rivers Conference Women's Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Rank

School (1st place votes)

Points

1.Luther College (4)16
2.Nebraska Wesleyan University (1)13
3.Coe College9
4.Loras College8
5.Simpson College4

The Poll: 

Luther is the coaches’ choice to win the 2024-25 A-R-C Women’s Swimming & Diving title in February. The Norse were chosen first on four ballots and earned 16 points. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own teams. Nebraska Wesleyan claimed the second spot with 13 points and one first place vote. The Kohawks garnered nine points to earn the third position. Loras comes in fourth with eight points and Simpson was picked to finish fifth with four points. 

National Spotlight: 

The CSCAA has not yet released national polls for the 2024-25 season. 

The Schedule: 

Loras kicks off the season at home facing Ripon on October 12. Luther is the next A-R-C team in action when they face Macalester on October 18. Nebraska Wesleyan and Simpson will begin their seasons in Indianola at the Relay Meet Simpson will host on October 19. The Kohawks begin their season on the 19th as well in Jacksonville, Illinois against Illinois College. 

The A-R-C Championship is slated for February 20-22 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at Coe College. 

Preseason No. 1 | Luther College Norse

Aaron Zander steps into his sixth season as the head coach of the Luther swimming & diving program. The women won the A-R-C title last season and look to repeat again this upcoming February. 

Luther will return 21 swimmers and five divers for the upcoming season. All-conference honorees returning include Maia Bumgardner, Hayley Crosland, Kate Denner, Peyton Gallt, Elise Ilsley, Ella Marti, Lillian McRoberts, Nev Nelson, Mia Prater, Cassie Rounds, Ella Rowley, and Ren Talerico. The lone all-conference performer lost for the Norse is Maddie Shea. 

We are incredibly excited for the year ahead, returning a tremendous senior class that has set the standard for the conference over the past three years and a very talented sophomore class that broke records in 2024. We aren’t resting on our 2024 championship, but are focused on the next step, breaking personal records, and aiming beyond what we achieved last year.
Aaron Zander, Luther College Head Swimming & Diving Coach

Preseason No. 2 | Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves

Head coach Kyle Hunt is entering his fifth season leading the Prairie Wolf program. He looks to continue to grow the women’s program and aim for the top spot in the league. 

Nebraska Wesleyan will return a slew of swimmers this season. Aubrey Horner, Ava Hunt, Elena Lazzaretto, Lili Spady, and Ciaira Wookey return this year as returning all-conference honorees. Angelina Orent is the lone P-Wolf all-conference performer missing from last year. 

With 18 new freshman, it is going to be an exciting year. I love the work ethic, the athleticism, the talent, and the comradery of this year’s squad! We need to be more efficient and effective with training and strength and conditioning if we want to be better than last year. We’ve got 114 days to get it done. Go P-Wolves! #MFTA
Kyle Hunt, Nebraska Wesleyan University Head Swimming Coach

Preseason No. 3 | Coe College Kohawks

Joe Tristan enters his second season as the Coe swimming and diving head coach. Tristan and the Kohawks look to make a jump on the conference leaderboard this upcoming championship.

Coe will return nine swimmers this season. They return Margaret Rhodes, Hollye Gutierrez, and Lynice Perkins as previous all-conference performers. 

I am excited to start my second year with a dedicated group of athletes ready to excel in the water.
Joe Tristan, Coe College Head Swimming & Diving Coach

Preseason No. 4 | Loras College Duhawks

Loras welcomes back Nick Wyllie for his sixth season leading charge for the Loras program. With a strong group returning, the Duhawks look to make this a successful season. 

Loras will return 15 swimmers and one diver this season. Annie Quinn, Maria Eide, Emma Nelson, and Emma Pajtash return as all-conference performers. 

Our women’s team is growing quickly. Each of the last few seasons we have made drastic strides and this year will be no exception. This will be the largest team we have ever had and I am looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish.
Nick Wyllie, Loras College Head Swimming & Diving Coach

Preseason No. 5 | Simpson College Storm

Adam Cvetich enters his fourth season as the head coach of the Simpson program. The Storm continues to make strides and improvements. 

Simpson will return 11 swimmers this upcoming season including Kate Minette, Breana Hinson, and Keelin Curley. Katie Oosterhuis will be missing from the Storm lineup following graduation. Cvetich named his all-conference returning performers and Maude Steinbeck as returning student-athletes to watch this season.

Extremely excited for the new season. Hit with an injury bug that saw us enter the 2024 A-R-C meet down roughly 30% of our team, but still be within striking distance of the next team. The team is healthy, hungry, and eager to prove what we can do, and we’ve got a great senior group that is a ‘been there done that’ group to help lead our newcomers. This year's energy has been above and beyond expectations and our training is weeks ahead of schedule. Very, very excited to have the privilege of coaching this group.
Adam Cvetich, Simpson College Head Swimming & Diving Coach

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About the American Rivers Conference

The Conference dates back to December 8, 1922, when representatives from 12 colleges got together and formed the "Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association." Honoring its heritage in Iowa and its expansion outside the state, the American Rivers Conference brand was established on August 9, 2018, to build on the academic and athletic success provided by its legacy, the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The A-R-C has nine full-time members: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College.