RICHMOND, Va. – On the eve of its home dual meet with Lindenwood University, the McKendree University men's and women's swimming & diving programs continue to be ranked in the Top 20 of the latest College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Division II Top 25 polls that were released by the CSCAA on Thursday.
In this year's third regular season poll, the Bearcat men's program remained ranked No. 5, while the women's program fell from a program-best No. 14 ranking to be tied for No. 16 nationally. The rankings are voted on by CSCAA-member coaches and select media. The committee consists of six representatives from Division II schools and two media members. The next poll is scheduled to be released on Feb. 9.
In this month's latest poll from the CSCAA, the Bearcat men, who are 7-1 on the season with its only dual meet loss coming at No. 1 ranked University of Indianapolis, earned 124 points to sit three points in front of No. 6 Lindenwood (121 points) and seven points behind No. 4 Colorado Mesa (131 points). UIndy continues to lead the men's rankings as they earned 146 points, while Queens University remains second, and Drury stayed at No. 3.
The Great Lakes Valley Conference continues to be well-represented in the latest men's rankings as the league has six teams ranked and one team just outside the Top 25 as the ranked GLVC teams are UIndy, Drury, McKendree, Lindenwood, Missouri S&T at No. 20 and Lewis at No. 25, while UMSL earned six votes to be second among the six teams earning votes.
Meanwhile, in the new women's poll, the Bearcat women fell two spots from No. 14 to a tie at No. 16 with Grand Valley State. The Bearcats received 58 points to be tied for 16th and is eight points in front of No. 18 Delta State (50 points) and is eight points behind No. 15 Wayne State (66 points). Queens University moved up the top spot in the poll, while UIndy and Drury are ranked second and third respectively.
Much like the men's poll, the GLVC women's teams are also well represented in the latest poll as five schools are ranked in the Top 25 and one school is receiving votes. The ranked women's teams are UIndy, Drury, Lindenwood at No. 8, McKendree and Truman State at No. 25, while UMSL earned one point to be seventh among the seven teams receiving votes.
The Bearcat men and women, who last competed on Nov. 18-20 at the Purdue Boilermaker Invitational, will return to the pool on Friday, Jan. 14 with a 3 p.m. home dual meet against Lindenwood University at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex pool. As a reminder to fans attending the home swim meet, masks are required to be worn by everyone in attendance at all McKendree indoor sporting events despite a person's vaccination status.
