COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Sept. 24, 2026) – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference announced its 2026-27 Women's Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll Thursday afternoon, with Colorado State University Pueblo selected sixth in the league heading into the upcoming season.
The ThunderWolves received 24 points in the preseason voting, tying Nebraska-Kearney for sixth place in the nine-team poll. Head coaches were not permitted to vote for their own programs.
Defending RMAC champion Colorado Mesa was selected as the preseason favorite after receiving eight first-place votes and a league-high 64 points. Colorado School of Mines earned the remaining first-place vote and was picked second with 57 points. Simon Fraser followed in third with 50 points, while Oklahoma Christian was selected fourth with 43 points and Western Colorado rounded out the top five with 36 points.
CSU Pueblo and Nebraska-Kearney each totaled 24 points, followed by UT Permian Basin with 19 points and Adams State with seven points.
The ThunderWolves return four All-RMAC selections from a season ago, led by captain Olivia Dannhaus. Also returning for the Pack are young standout distance swimmer Andrea Reyes, along with sprinters Aria Chase and Angela Pantke, giving CSU Pueblo a strong returning core entering the 2026-27 campaign.
The Pack will also have to replace longtime veteran Carla Sanchez Guareno, who concluded her collegiate career following last season. Sanchez Guareno developed into one of the most accomplished backstroke specialists in program history and was a steady presence for the ThunderWolves throughout her career in the Steel City.
The preseason poll was released in conjunction with the 2026-27 Preseason All-RMAC Women's Swimming & Diving Team, which recognizes the top returning performers from each championship event at last season's RMAC Championships. Colorado Mesa led the preseason team with seven returning event winners.
The 2026-27 RMAC Women's Swimming & Diving Championships are scheduled for Feb. 9-13 at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colo.
2026-27 RMAC Women's Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll
- Colorado Mesa – 64 points (8 first-place votes)
- Colorado School of Mines – 57 points (1 first-place vote)
- Simon Fraser – 50 points
- Oklahoma Christian – 43 points
- Western Colorado – 36 points
T-6. CSU Pueblo – 24 points
T-6. Nebraska-Kearney – 24 points
- UT Permian Basin – 19 points
- Adams State – 7 points
