SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Denver Pioneers were chosen to win both the Summit League Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships as the Pioneers topped both preseason polls released Thursday by the league office.

The Pioneer men have won seven straight Summit League Championships and collected all four of their possible first-place votes. Denver was followed in the men's preseason poll by South Dakota, South Dakota State, Eastern Illinois and Valparaiso.

On the women's side, the Pioneers have won the last seven Summit League Championships and also collected all four of their possible first-place votes. DU was followed in the women's preseason poll by South Dakota State, South Dakota, Omaha and Eastern Illinois.

Points were compiled on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis and coaches could not vote for their own team.
 

Summit League Men's Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank	School	Points (1st)	2019-20 Championship Finish
1.	Denver	21 (4)	1st (1082.5 pts)
2.	South Dakota	18 (1)	2nd (706.5 pts)
3.	South Dakota State	15	3rd (645.5 pts)
4.	Eastern Illinois	12	4th (395 pts)
5.	Valparaiso	9	6th (244 pts)

Summit League Women’s Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Rank	School	Points (1st)	2019-20 Championship Finish
1.	Denver	21 (4)	1st (1147.5 pts)
2.	South Dakota State	17	3rd (603.5 pts)
3.	South Dakota	16 (1)	2nd (656.5 pts)
4.	Omaha	12	4th (581 pts)
5.	Eastern Illinois	9	5th (233 pts)

 
Summit League Men’s Preseason Swimmers and Divers to Watch
*as selected by league coaches
 
South Dakota
Elbert Chuang - Senior | Breast | Richmond Hill, Ontario
• Earned All-Summit League honors in four events (two individual, two relay) at the 2020 Summit League Championships
• Finished second in the 100 IM (51.72) and third in the 100 fly (49.87) and swam on runner-up 200 medley and 400 medley relays at the championships
• Set personal bests in the 100 fly (49.87) and 100 IM (51.72) at the Summit League Championships
 
Seth O’Dea – Senior | Diver | Fairfax, Va.
• Posted a fourth-place finish in the 1-meter diving event (297.65) and a fifth-place effort in the 3-meter event (293.65) during the Summit League Championships
• Season bests of 307.25 on the three-meter and 297.65 on the one-meter came during the Summit League Championships
• Sits third in the one-meter and fifth in the three-meter on the Coyotes' all-time top 10 list
 
South Dakota State
Damon Venner – Junior | Free/Butterfly | Sioux Falls, S.D.
• Placed fifth in the 500 free (4:33.75) and 200 fly (1:52.14), 11th in the 1,650 free (16:43.72) and third in each the 800 free (6:45.11) and 400 medley relays (3:22.93) at 2020 Summit League Championships
• Swam career-best in the 400 IM (4:09.88) at Augustana Invitational
• Added career-bests in the 200 free (1:42.39), 100 breast (1:03.81), 200 breast (2:15.15), 100 fly (50.99) and 200 IM (2:00.65) at Jackrabbit Invitational
 
Zach Boyd – Sophomore | Dive | Omaha, Neb.
• Won the men’s 1-meter dive (315.60) and placed sixth in the 3-meter (283.95) at 2020 Summit League Championships
• Qualified for NCAA Zone Diving Championships, placed 25th in the 1-meter (246.05) and 29th in the 3-meter (240.05)
• Recorded both career-bests at Augustana Invitational, diving a 324.30 in the 1-meter and a 334.25 in the 3-meter
 
Eastern Illinois
Scott House – Senior | Free/Back | Elizabethtown, Ky.
• Was an All-Summit League honoree in the 200 free relay, 400 free relay and 800 free relay
• Placed third in the 200 free and was a part of the 200 and 400 free relay teams that placed third at the Summit League Championships
• Set a personal bests in the 50 free (20.40), 100 free (44.61) and in the 200 free (1:39.19) at the 2020 Summit League Championships
 
Andrew Crouse – Junior | Free/Back | Herrin, Ill.
• Was an All-Summit League recipient in the 200 free relay
• Recorded personal bests in the 50 free, 100 back and 200 back at the Summit League Championships

Valparaiso
Derek Eidson– Junior | Butterfly/Free | Ventura, Calif.
• Set a school record in the 100 IM (53.05) and moved into third in program history in the 200 free (1:41.46) and the 100 fly (51.23) last season
• Posted fourth-best time in program history in the 100 free (46.49) and led off record-setting 400 free and 800 free relays
• Placed eighth at the Summit League Championships in the 100 IM, 11th in the 100 fly and 14th in the 200 free
 
Dominic May – Junior | Spring | Naperville, Ill.
• Earned All-League honors at the Summit League Championships with a second-place finish in the 200 free, improving his own program record with a time of 1:39.08
• Led Valpo in the 50 free (21.00), moving into third place in program history in the event
• Anchored school-record 400 free relay and swam second leg of record-setting 800 free relay

Denver opted not to submit any ‘Male Athletes to Watch’
   
Summit League Women’s Preseason Swimmers and Divers to Watch
*as selected by league coaches
 
South Dakota
Maddie Lavin – Junior | IM/Distance/Fly | Vermillion, S.D.
• Earned All-Summit League honors with a third-place finish in the 200 fly (2:02.91) and as a member of a second-place 400 medley relay
• Placed ninth in the 100 fly (56.32) and 12th in the 400 IM (4:37.74) at the Summit League Championships
• Set a school record in the 200 fly at the Summit League Championships
 
Haley Pederson – Senior | Diver | West Fargo, N.D.
• Earned All-Summit League honors in both diving events, finishing second in the 3-meter event (291.35) and third in the 1-meter board (247.30)
• Set a personal best on the one-meter board with a 270.65 in a dual with Iowa State
• Season best on three-meter board came from Summit League Championships and moved up to fifth on USD's Top 10 list in one-meter event
 
South Dakota State
Alyssa Eckstein – Sophomore | Breast/IM | Big Lake, Minn.
• Broke school record in the 400 IM (4:23.52), placing second in the event at 2020 Summit League Championships
• Finished third in each the 100 breast (1:03.05) and 200 breast (2:17.24), while also placing second on the 400 free relay (3:28.15), 200 medley relay (1:44.90) and 400 medley relay teams (3:48.57) at the 2020 Summit League Championships
• Qualified for 2020 CSCAA National Invitational Championships
 
Quincee Simonsen – Senior | Dive | Fargo, N.D.
• Placed fourth in the 3-meter dive with career-best 258.25 and fifth in the 1-meter (239.05) at 2020 Summit League Championships
• Recorded career-best in the 1-meter (256.75) at Augustana Invitational
• Won 1-meter dive at USD Quad-Duals and 3-meter at dual vs. Omaha

Omaha
Caroline Gardner – Sophomore | Butterfly/IM | Plymouth, Minn.
• Named All-Summit in 100 breast and 200 medley relay
• Set a school record in 100 breast with time of 1:02.90 last season
• Placed second in 100 breast, third in 50 free, fourth in 100 IM and seventh in 200 breast at Summit League Championships

Kady Eller – Sophomore | Dive | Phoenix, Ariz.
• Scored season-best 225.50 and placed sixth in 1-meter dive at Summit League Championships
• Became first Maverick diver in Division I era to reach semifinals at a large fall invite
• Swept the 1-meter and 3-meter dives against Western Illinois and Sioux Falls in 2019-20 

Eastern Illinois
Kennedy Darensbourg – Freshman | Free | Fredericksburg, Va.
• At the VHSL 6A State Championship, placed 23rd in the 500 free
• Fastest time in the 200 free is 2:00.04 and in the 500 free is 5:12.21
• Swam club for Rappahannock Y Swim
 
Camryn Lewis – Freshman | Free | Kennesaw, Ga.
• At the GHSA 6-7A State Championship, placed third in the 50 free with a time of 24.34 which was a season-best
• Placed fourth in the 100 free with a time of 53.25 which was also a season-best
• Fastest time in the 50 free is 24.13, in the 100 free is 52.73, in the 200 free is 1:58.76 and in the 500 free is 5:34.31

Denver opted not to submit any ‘Female Athletes to Watch’
 
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