Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa — The Midwest Conference (MWC) announced the annual women’s swimming & diving preseason coaches’ poll for the 2023-24 season Wednesday, and the Grinnell College Pioneers finished first atop the predicted standings.
 
The defending champions picked up six first-place votes and 62 points, three points ahead of Lake Forest College, which collected the final three first-place votes and 59 points for second place.
 
St. Norbert College received 50 points to secure third place, followed by Lawrence University with 43 points in fourth place and Ripon College in fifth place with 34 points.
 
Rounding out the poll, Monmouth College earned 24 points, Beloit College 23 points, Illinois College 21 points, and Knox College 8 points.
 
The 2023-24 campaign opens on Saturday, October 7, as the Vikings of Lawrence University travel for a dual against Carroll University.
 
The 2024 MWC Swimming & Diving Championships are scheduled for the weekend of Friday, February 16, through Sunday, February 18, on the campus of Grinnell College.
 
Full preseason poll results and quick facts for all nine league teams can be found below:
 
2023-24 Women’s Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Grinnell College (6) – 62 points
2. Lake Forest College (3) – 59 points
3. St. Norbert College – 50 points
4. Lawrence University – 43 points
5. Ripon College – 34 points
6. Monmouth College – 24 points
7. Beloit College – 23 points
8. Illinois College – 21 points
9. Knox College – 8 points
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Andrew Lind (1^st Season)
2022-23 MWC Finish: 6^th
Individual Champion/All-Conference Returnees: N/A

Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Matthew Hedman (1^st Season)
2022-23 MWC Finish: 1^st
Individual Champion/All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Illinois College Lady Blues
Head Coach: Christopher Sykes (11^th Season)
2022-23 MWC Finish: 8^th
Individual Champion/All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Kim Schrader (2^nd Season) 
2022-23 MWC Finish: 9^th
Individual Champion/All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Vadim Tashlitsky (16^th Season)
2022-23 MWC Finish: 2^nd
Individual Champion/All-Conference Returnees: Amelie Andres (So; 2023 – 100 Breaststroke, 200 Breaststroke, 400 Freestyle Relay), Ally McCarthy (Sr; 2023 – 500 Freestyle, 1650 Freestyle, 800 Freestyle Relay), Harriet Townsend (2023 – 3M Diving), Valeria Welk (So; 2023 – 400 Freestyle Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay)
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Andrew Fleek (16^th Season)
2022-23 MWC Finish: 4^th
Individual Champion/All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Jake Dacus (3^rd Season) 
2022-23 MWC Finish: 7^th
Individual Champion/All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Jon Wilson (2^nd Season)
2022-23 MWC Finish: 5^th
Individual Champion/All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
St. Norbert College Green Knights
Head Coach: Ryan Goggans (2^nd Season) 
2022-23 MWC Finish: 3^rd
Individual Champion/All-Conference Returnees: Lacy Geurts (Jr; 2023 – 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle), Janie Richards (So; 2023 – 100 Backstroke)