SDSU swimming and diving picked third, fourth

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BROOKINGS – The South Dakota State men's swimming and diving squad was picked to finish third in the Summit League.

In the preseason poll, the Jacks received 18 votes, behind Denver's 25 (5 first-place votes) and South Dakota's 20 (1 first-place).

Rounding out the list was Western Illinois in fourth (14 votes), Eastern Illinois in fifth (9) and Valparaiso in sixth (4).

Season Preview

After placing third in last year's conference championship, the Jacks are picked again to finish third. With strong returners and a large pool of new additions, the team is built this year to take a step in the right direction.

"I am very excited for the upcoming season," said head coach Doug Humphries. "We return a lot of talent with a large amount of new athletes who will have a tremendous impact on this team. It should be a fun and exciting year."

Diving coach Elyse Brouillette received the Men's Diving Coach of the Year award from the Summit League last season and will have one returning diver in Mitch Raihle along with three newcomers on the men's side.

Schedule

Oct. 19 will be the men's first full meet, going up against Iowa Central CC. That meet will be followed by the South Dakota Quad-Duals, November 1-2 in Sioux Falls, hosted by USD, involving St. Cloud State and Western Illinois in addition to the Jacks and Coyotes.

Later that month will be the Sioux Falls Invitational at USF November 21-23. January will see the men's final two dual meets, traveling to St. Cloud State Jan. 18 and hosting USD Jan. 25.

The Jackrabbit Invitational (Feb. 7-8) will be the team's final tune-up before the 2020 conference championship which will take place February 19-22 at the Midco Aquatic Center in Sioux Falls.

Returners

The men will be returning four seniors, including diver Raihle who won gold in last year's 3-Meter at the Summit League Championship. Also returning are three other 2019 All-Summit League honorees, Juniors Jared Miller and Cody Watkins, as well as Sophomore Trever Brenner.

Jared Miller is currently the school record holder in the 200 back. Cody Watkins holds school records in the 100 fly and the 400 medley relay. Trever Brenner was also on the record holding 400 medley relay team and sits in the top-three spots in the 200 free as well.

Newcomers

Plenty of new faces join both teams, with the men bringing on 14 newcomers including 13 freshman and a sophomore transfer, Quenton Steffen from Fordham University.

Of the 13 freshmen, three are from Nebraska, two each from Minnesota and Kansas, and one each from South Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Georgia and Zambia, South Africa.

Up Next

The Jacks will have their annual Yellow and Blue Intrasquad Scrimmage Friday at 4 p.m. before the men see their first action at Iowa Central CC, Oct. 19. 

WOMEN

South Dakota State women’s swimming and diving was picked to finish fourth in the Summit League preseason poll.

The Jacks received 13 total votes, behind Denver’s 25 (5 first-place votes), South Dakota’s 21 (1 first-place) and Omaha’s 17 votes.

Rounding out the list was Western Illinois in fifth with nine votes Eastern Illinois in sixth with five.

Season Preview

Both teams are picked to finish where they placed in last year’s Summit League Championship, with the women picked to place fourth again. However, with new life brought into the program, the team looks to make another step forward.

“I am very excited for the upcoming season,” said head coach Doug Humphries. “We return a lot of talent with a large amount of new athletes who will have a tremendous impact on this team. It should be a fun and exciting year.”

Diving coach Elyse Brouillette will have two returning divers to work with this year in junior Quincee Simonson and sophomore Abbi Rouse. Them, along with a pair of newcomers, will have a lot of potential ahead.

Schedule

The women will open the year hosting Nebraska Oct. 11 before traveling to Iowa Central CC for an Oct. 11 meet. That will be followed by the South Dakota Quad-Duals, November 1-2 in Sioux Falls, hosted by USD, involving St. Cloud State and Western Illinois in addition to the Jacks and Coyotes.

Later that month will be the Sioux Falls Invitational at USF November 21-23. January will see the women’s final three dual meets, traveling to Iowa State Jan. 17, St. Cloud State Jan. 18 and hosting USD Jan. 25.

The Jackrabbit Invitational (Feb. 7-8) will be the team’s final tune-up before the 2020 conference championship which will take place February 19-22 at the Midco Aquatic Center in Sioux Falls.

Returners

Nine seniors will be returning for the women, along with a transfer, making for a large senior class. Also returning are three 2019 All-Summit League honorees, senior Daniella Santillan, junior Emily Pincus and sophomore Maria Currie.

Senior Ashley Theobald is another senior who will have an impact. She currently holds the school record in the 200 medley relay.

Newcomers

Plenty of new faces join both teams, with the women bringing on 12 newcomers including 10 freshman, a sophomore transfer, Adria Golla from Fresno State, and Madison Sarantakos, a senior from Georgia Southern University.

Of the 10 freshmen, there are four from Minnesota, two from Nebraska, and one each from Illinois, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Aruba.

Up Next

The Jacks will have their annual Yellow and Blue Intrasquad Scrimmage Friday at 4 p.m. before the women open the regular season against Nebraska, Oct. 11.