Courtesy: The American
IRVING, Texas – FIU has been selected as the preseason favorite for the American Athletic Conference Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship, as selected by the league’s head coaches.
FIU earned a total of 35 points, including five first-place votes, to be picked as the favorite. Rice and SMU tied for second with 29 points apiece. Both also received one first-place vote. East Carolina was picked fourth with 18 points, followed by Florida Atlantic (13), Tulane (12) and North Texas (11).
The Panthers finished second at the 2023 American Swimming and Diving Championships, while SMU was third and Rice was fourth.
Among the returning individual champions include SMU’s Lucrezia Napoletano, who won three individual events (50 freestyle, 100 free, 200 free) and was named The American’s Most Outstanding Swimming Performer and FIU’s Christie Chue, who won the 200 IM and 200 breaststroke and earned Honorable Mention All-America honors.
Nicole Frank of FIU was named the 2023 Freshman of the Year and captured the 400 IM, while Rice’s Arielle Hayon won the 100- and 200 butterfly. Ella Dyson of Rice was victorious in the 1,650 free.
The 2024 American Athletic Conference Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships will be held February 22-25 at the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr McMillion Natatorium in Dallas.
2023-24 American Athletic Conference
Women’s Swimming and Diving Preseason Poll
| FIU (5) | 35 |
| Rice (1) | 29 |
| SMU (1) | 29 |
| East Carolina | 18 |
| Florida Atlantic | 13 |
| Tulane | 12 |
| North Texas | 11 |