ELMHURST, Ill. – After finishing third in the Summit League last season, the South Dakota State men's swimming and diving team was picked second with 20 votes in the preseason coaches poll voted on by the league's coaches, announced Friday.

Defending champion Denver was picked first with 25 points. The Jackrabbits finished ahead of South Dakota with 18 points, Western Illinois (13), Eastern Illinois (nine) and Valparaiso  (five).

Divers Parker Brown and Joseph Weber, along with swimmer Daniel Jacobson were named to the Athletes to Watch list. Brown finished third on the 3-meter dive with a score of 318.8 and eighth on the 1-meter dive (222.7) at the Summit League Championships last season. Weber placed fifth on the 3-meter with a 313 and 10th on the 1-meter (240.2) at the championships. Jacobson returns to the water after redshirting last season. The senior holds the school record in the 50- and 100-yard backstroke and is second in the 50 and 100 freestyle and 200 backstroke.

Women

The South Dakota State women's swimming and diving team was picked third with 17 points in the Summit League preseason poll. The Jackrabbits finished behind Denver, the defending champions, with 25 points and South Dakota with 19 points. Omaha (15 points), Western Illinois (eight) and Eastern Illinois (six) followed behind SDSU.

Richelle Bruyckere and Kristin Erf were selected for the Athletes to Watch list. Bruyckere finished eighth in the 100 free, sixth in the 200 free and 13th in the 500 free at the Summit League Championships last season. The junior was also a member of the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle relays that all placed fourth at the championships. Erf placed second in the 100 breast, third in the 200 and fifth in the 50 free at the championships. The Oakdale, Minn. native, holds the school record in the 100 breast.

SDSU opens its season playing host to Midland and Iowa Central on Oct. 21 at the Stanley J. Marshall Center Pool.