Contact: Greta Norville, Assistant Director of Sports Communications and Marketing, norvilleg@midwestconference.org
NEENAH, Wisconsin – Grinnell College has been tabbed as the Midwest Conference (MWC) women’s swimming and diving favorite for the 2026-27 season, as voted by the league's head coaches in the MWC preseason coaches’ poll announced Thursday afternoon. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams.
The Pioneers received eight of the 10 first-place votes and accumulated 80 points to lead all teams. Grinnell has won the last five league championships in a row (and 34 titles overall).
Midwest Conference newcomer Luther College finished in second place with 65 points and received one first-place vote, while Lake Forest College claimed third with 62 points and also picked up a first-place vote. St. Norbert College came in fourth with 61 points, while Milwaukee School of Engineering rounded out the top half of the poll with 55 points.
Illinois College (34 points), Monmouth College (32 points), Beloit College (27 points), Lawrence University (23 points) and Ripon College (11 points) rounded out the back half of the voting.
The 2026-27 season opens this Saturday, October 3. The campaign will conclude at the 2027 MWC Swimming & Diving Championships hosted by Grinnell College from Thursday, February 18, through Sunday, February 21.
2026-27 MWC Women’s Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches’ Poll Results
1. Grinnell College (8 first-place votes) - 80 points
2. Luther College (1) - 65 points
3. Lake Forest College (1) - 62 points
4. St. Norbert College - 61 points
5. Milwaukee School of Engineering - 55 points
6. Illinois College - 34 points
7. Monmouth College - 32 points
8. Beloit College - 27 points
9. Lawrence University - 23 points
10. Ripon College - 11 points
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Dan Vale (3rd Season)
2025-26 MWC Finish: 8th
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Matthew Hedman (3rd Season)
2025-26 MWC Finish: 1st
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
Illinois College Blueboys
Head Coach: Sue Su (Interim)
2025-26 MWC Finish: 6th
All-Conference Returnees: Julie Edwards, Jadyn Grismer, Laci O'Malley
Lake Forest College Foresters
Head Coach: Eric Skelly (1st Season)
2025-26 MWC Finish: 3rd
All-Conference Returnees: Joss Hoffman, Audrey Kilmer (2024 MWC Swimmer of the Year), Isabella Rozenbergas (2025 & 2026 MWC Swimmer of the Year), Valeria Welk
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Kayla Wiltzius (1st Season)
2025-26 MWC Finish: 7th
Individual Champion/All-Conference Returnees: N/A
Luther College Norse
Head Coach: Aaron Zander
2025-26 A-R-C Finish: 2nd
Individual Champion/All-Conference Returnees: Annabelle Pollock, Lillian McRoberts, Mia Prater (2026 A-R-C Swimmer of the Meet), Annemarie Johnson (2026 A-R-C Rookie of the Year), Noelle Gallucci (2026 A-R-C Diver of the Meet), Esmee van der Tuuk, Kate Denner
Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders
Head Coach: Renata Schlomann (2nd Season)
2025-26 MWC Finish: 4th
Individual Champion/All-Conference Returnees: Gabby Schmid
Monmouth College Fighting Scots
Head Coach: Jake Dacus (6th Season)
2025-26 MWC Finish: 5th
Individual Champion/All-Conference Returnees: None
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Sophie Czerwonka (Interim)
2025-26 MWC Finish: 9th
Individual Champion/All-Conference Returnees: N/A
St. Norbert College Green Knights
Head Coach: Ryan Goggans (4th Season)
2025-26 MWC Finish: 2nd
Individual Champion/All-Conference Returnees: Keyilah Justus, Claire Sieber, Katherine Thompson, Sydney DeRung, Sanya Wienke, Ashley Mako (2026 MWC Newcomer of the Year), Adelle Polzin