SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota men's swimming and diving has been picked to win the Summit League as the Summit League on Wednesday released its preseason coaches' poll.
 
The Coyotes, who captured the school's first-ever Summit League men's swimming and diving title in the spring, received four of the six first-place votes and had 23 points. Denver, who had won the previous seven league titles, received the other two first-place votes and had 21 points.
 
Meanwhile, the Coyote women are picked to finish third, same spot the team finished at last spring's league championship meet. The women received 18 points trailing Denver's 25 and South Dakota State's 20.
 
Four members of the South Dakota swimming and diving program were named as preseason swimmers and divers to watch by the Summit League.
 
The men's team saw seniors Charlie Bean and Hudson Wilkerson while the women's team had senior Cassie Ketterling and sophomore Stella Fairbanks.
 
Bean, a six-time All-Summit League honoree, won his first Summit League title when he captured the 100 free (44.92). He also swam on winning relays, the 200 free and 400 free at the championships.
 
Wilkerson earned All-Summit League honors with a runner-up finish in the one-meter diving event scoring a season-high 284.70 points. He also posted a season-high 298.35 in finishing fourth in the three-meter competition.
 
Ketterling earned All-Summit League honors with a runner-up in the 100 IM while she also placed ninth in the 100 fly and 11^th in the 100 breast at the Summit League Championships.
 
Fairbanks, a five-time Summit League Women's Diver of the Week, was the conference champ in the one-meter diving competition, scoring 265.20 points. She also placed second in the three-meter even (274.45) to earn all-league honors in both events.
 
 
Summit League Men's Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank     School                           Points (1st)       2020-21 Championship Finish
1.         South Dakota                23 (4)               1st (915.5 pts)
2.         Denver                          21 (2)               3rd (575.5 pts)
3.         South Dakota State        16                    2nd (827.5 pts)
4.         Omaha                          12                    N/A
5.         St. Thomas                    10                     N/A
6.         Eastern Illinois               8                      4th (447 pts)
 
Summit League Women's Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank     School                           Points (1st)       2019-20 Championship Finish
1.         Denver                          25 (5)               1st (1052.5 pts)
2.         South Dakota State        20 (1)               2nd (703.5 pts)
3.         South Dakota                18                     3rd (663 pts)
4.         Omaha                          13                    4th (548 pts)
5.         St. Thomas                    8                      N/A
6.         Eastern Illinois               6                      5th (324 pts)