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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Summit League has released its 2023-2024 Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Coaches' Poll and Athletes to Watch list. Both Eastern Illinois'Â Men's and Women's teams were picked to finished seventh in the conference. The full poll can be viewed below:
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| 2023-24 Summit League Men's Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| Rank |
School |
Points (1st) |
2023 Championship Finish |
| 1. |
Denver |
47 (5) |
1st (902 pts) |
| 2. |
Lindenwood |
45 (3) |
2nd (798.5 pts) |
| 3. |
South Dakota |
36 |
3rd (546 pts) |
| 4. |
South Dakota State |
29 |
4th (495 pts) |
| 5. |
Omaha |
26 |
5th (345 pts) |
| 6. |
St. Thomas |
19 |
6th (242 pts) |
| 7. |
Eastern Illinois |
12 |
7th (171.5 pts) |
| 8. |
Southern Indiana |
10 |
8th (137 pts) |
| 2023-24 Summit League Women's Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| Rank |
School |
Points (1st) |
2023 Championship Finish |
| 1. |
Denver |
49 (7) |
1st (1,047 pts) |
| 2. |
South Dakota |
41 (1) |
2nd (695.5 pts) |
| 3. |
Lindenwood |
39 |
3rd (566.5 pts) |
| 4. |
Omaha |
29 |
4th (479 pts) |
| 5. |
South Dakota State |
27 |
5th (317 pts) |
| 6. |
St. Thomas |
17 |
6th (219 pts) |
| 7. |
Eastern Illinois |
12 |
7th (189 pts) |
| 8. |
Southern Indiana |
10 |
8th (125 pts) |
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ATHLETES TO WATCH:
Panthers named to the Athletes to Watch list included Dismas Dillion and
Gabe Berry on the Men's team, along with
Camryn Lewis and
Corinne Staneart on the Women's team.
Dismas Dillon is a junior from Sylvania, Ohio. Last season, he set a school record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 20.31, which placed him seventh at the Summit League Championships. He finished sixth at the Summit League Championships in the 100 free with a season best time of 44.96, which ranks third in the EIU record books. He also added another a school record with a time of 50.19 in the 100 fly, also at the Summit League Championships.
Gabe Berry, a freshman, has come to Eastern by way of Zionsville, Indiana. As a senior in high school, he placed seventh in both the 200 freestyle (1:42.32) and 50 freestyle (21.12) at the Indiana Senior State Championships. In addition, he earned a fifth-place finish in the 50 free (20.88) and eighth in the 100 breaststroke (56.50) at the IHSAA Boys State Championships.
Camryn Lewis is a senior from Kennesaw, Georgia. At last season's Summit League Championships, she set a school record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 22.98, which placed her fifth at the meet. She reached the Summit League B Final in the 100 free with a top team time of 52.15. Lewis also swam the second leg on the Panthers' school-record setting 200 free relay team (1:34.87) and swam the opening leg on their school-record setting 400 medley relay team (3:52.42).
A junior from Toledo, Ohio,
Corinne Staneart set school records in three individual events last season, as well as in one relay team. She broke the EIU record in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:04.34 at the Summit League Championships, placing first in the B Final. She also set a school record in the 200 breaststroke at the SIUE A3 Performance with a time of 2:17.97.
The Panthers' first meet of the 2023-2024 season is scheduled for October 6
th at 4 p.m. at Illinois State. Their first home meet is set for October 28
th against Quincy University. The time is still to be announced.
