VERMILLION, S.D. – Prior to the start of the 2026-27 swim and dive season, coaches around the Summit League sent in their ballots for the preseason coaches' poll for both Men's and Women's season.
 
With 25 points and five of the six first-place votes, the South Dakota Men's squad sit at the top of the list in the preseason poll for the first time since the 2021 campaign.
 
That year, the Yotes finished a perfect 4-0 in their Summit League meets and finished second to Denver in the Summit League Championships.
 
With the same number of votes as the men, the South Dakota Women's Swim and Dive team earn their first-ever preseason No. 1 slot in the program's 16 years in the conference.
"It's always nice to see our team ranked high in the preseason poll, but there's a lot of work to be done between now and the end of the season," head coach Jason Mahowald said. "We have a great group of swimmers and divers with some very big goals.
"We're excited to get the season started, continue working, and see how far we can push ourselves."
In addition to the team recognition, four Coyote athletes earned a spot as a "Player to Watch" as voted by the coaches.
 
Sophomore diver Maddox Mork and junior free/back Nick Rounds headline the men's side while junior free Emily DiProspero and sophomore diver Anna Williams represent USD on the women's side. It is all four of these Coyote athletes earn their first preseason honors.
 
At last season's Summit League Championships, Rounds was voted Swimming Championship MVP after placing first in six events (200-yard medley relay, 50-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle relay, 100-yard backstroke, 400-yard medley relay and 100-yard freestyle).
 
Mork earned honors after he finished third in the 3-meter dive finals.
 
DiProspero earned postseason honors last year, placing third in the 200-yard freestyle, second in the 500-yard freestyle and first in the 1650-yard freestyle.
 
Williams earned her postseason honors with a second-place finish in the team diving event.
 
 
The Coyotes begin their 2026-27 season on Saturday, Sept. 26 with its Red vs. White Scrimmage at the USD Natatorium before starting their regular season slate at Minnesota State on Oct. 2.
 
Below are the full results of the 2026-27 poll as voted on by the coaches of the Summit League:
 
2026-27 Summit League Men's Swimming and Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank	School	Points (1st)
1.	South Dakota	25 (5)
2.	Omaha	21(1)
3.	South Dakota State	17
4.	St. Thomas	12
5.	Southern Indiana	10
6.	Eastern Illinois	5

2026-27 Summit League Women's Swimming and Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll

Rank	School	Points (1st)
1.	South Dakota	25 (5)
2.	Omaha	21(1)
3.	St. Thomas	15
T4.	South Dakota State	12
T4.	Southern Indiana	12
6.	Eastern Illinois	5

Men's Players to Watch
Maddox Mork | Dive | Sophomore
Nick Rounds | Free/Back | Junior

Women's Players to Watch
Emily DiProspero | Free | Junior 
Anna Williams | Dive | Sophomore