Wayland Baptist’s men are tied for 3rd in the first 2016-17 NAIA poll while the women are tied for 6th, representing the highest rankings ever for the Pioneer swimming and diving program.
“Our guys’ goal is to finish in the top three, so we’re right there, and we want our women to finish in the top five, so they’re getting there,” WBU coach Alyson Hannan said. “We are really excited.”
The Pioneer men finished sixth nationally last year while the women were 10th.
Hannan said the hard part will be maintaining or improving the rankings.
“We have to keep working hard and keep striving toward our time goals and we’ll get there,” she said.
https://youtu.be/BPFEx4_iAok
In the men’s top 10, defending national champion Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) comes in at No. 1, having earned all five first-place votes. Defending national runner-up SCAD Savannah (Ga.) sits one spot behind the Tigers. The Bees return the NAIA Men’s Swimmer of the Year in Joel Ax.
Wayland is tied for third with first-year program Keiser, Fla.
On the women’s side, defending national runner-up Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) has taken over the No. 1 ranking, followed by defending national champion SCAD Savannah (Ga.)
Wayland and College of Idaho are tied for sixth.
Top 10 team ratings are conducted by a committee of NAIA swimming and diving coaches three times during the season. The committee will use the most current “top times” as the primary source of ranking.
The next Top 25 Poll will be released Nov. 17.
Wayland already has competed in two competitions this season. The next will be duals against Texas-Permian Basin and McMurry in Abilene on Nov. 11.