Completed Event: Men's Swimming and Diving versus Summit League Championships on February 18, 2026 , , 4th of 7 Teams — 458 Points
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FINAL
Men's Swimming and Diving
(4th of 7 Teams — 458 Points)
vs Summit League Championships
South Dakota State University Athletics
SDSU PICKED FOURTH, FIFTH IN SUMMIT SWIM RACE
9/27/2023 12:39:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
SIOUX FALLS — The South Dakota State men's swimming and diving team has been picked to finish fourth and the Jackrabbit women were tabbed fifth in the 2023-24 Summit League preseason coaches' poll, which was announced Wednesday.
The Jackrabbits' respective placings were the same as their finish at last season's Summit League Swimming and Diving Championships. Denver, which claimed league team titles in both divisions during the 2022-23 campaign, was selected to repeat this season, with Lindenwood picked second on the men's side and South Dakota second in the women's division.
In addition, four SDSU student-athletes — two men and two women — were named Swimmers and Divers to Watch. Representing the Jackrabbit men were juniors Denilson Cyprianos and Austin Smith.
Cyprianos, a native of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, set a school record in the 200-yard backstroke en route to a runner-up finish at the 2023 Summit League Championships and also recorded top-10 placings in the 100 backstroke and 1,650 freestyle.
Smith, from the Woodlands, Texas, set individual school records and posted top-five finishes in the 100 individual medley, 200 IM and 100 butterfly at last season's league championships.
Highlighting the women's squad are senior backstroke swimmers Sianne Downes and Kelsey Kocon. Downes, from Edenvale, South Africa, eclipsed her own school-record marks in the 100 and 200 backstroke while placing fourth and sixth, respectively.
Kocon, a native of St. Michael, Minnesota, turned in respective fifth- and eighth-place finishes in the 100 and 200 backstroke, while adding an 11th-place showing in the 200 individual medley.
The Jackrabbits will host their Yellow and Blue Intrasquad at 4 p.m. Friday before opening the 2023-24 season Oct. 6 by hosting Augustana in dual action at the Marshall Center Pool.
The Jackrabbits' respective placings were the same as their finish at last season's Summit League Swimming and Diving Championships. Denver, which claimed league team titles in both divisions during the 2022-23 campaign, was selected to repeat this season, with Lindenwood picked second on the men's side and South Dakota second in the women's division.
In addition, four SDSU student-athletes — two men and two women — were named Swimmers and Divers to Watch. Representing the Jackrabbit men were juniors Denilson Cyprianos and Austin Smith.
Cyprianos, a native of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, set a school record in the 200-yard backstroke en route to a runner-up finish at the 2023 Summit League Championships and also recorded top-10 placings in the 100 backstroke and 1,650 freestyle.
Smith, from the Woodlands, Texas, set individual school records and posted top-five finishes in the 100 individual medley, 200 IM and 100 butterfly at last season's league championships.
Highlighting the women's squad are senior backstroke swimmers Sianne Downes and Kelsey Kocon. Downes, from Edenvale, South Africa, eclipsed her own school-record marks in the 100 and 200 backstroke while placing fourth and sixth, respectively.
Kocon, a native of St. Michael, Minnesota, turned in respective fifth- and eighth-place finishes in the 100 and 200 backstroke, while adding an 11th-place showing in the 200 individual medley.
The Jackrabbits will host their Yellow and Blue Intrasquad at 4 p.m. Friday before opening the 2023-24 season Oct. 6 by hosting Augustana in dual action at the Marshall Center Pool.
| 2023-24 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING PRESEASON 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 AND DIVING PRESEASON 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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Players Mentioned
BACK
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
BK, IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
BK, IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
BACK, IM
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