Above Photo Courtesy: John McGillen/USC Athletics
PHOENIX – The first rankings poll of the 2014-2015 season from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America nearly put the University of Southern California unanimously at the top of the list of the top 25 Division I swimming and diving teams. The Trojans missed out on a perfect vote by one point.
The goal of the CSCAA rankings committee is to produce an in-season poll of the 25 best-performing teams in rank order at the time of each poll. The poll is not designed to predict the results of the NCAA Championship, but rather which teams would win head-to-head against other teams in the country.
Specifically, the poll committee does not differentiate between the types of meets, or the status of a specific team in terms of rested versus unrested, when considering votes. Further, rankings are only based on performances that have taken place up to that point in the season, with an emphasis on action from the previous poll.
This first poll ranking of the season is missing some notable teams that have not yet competed in dual or invitational meets. The committee does not consider teams that have yet to post official times in the current college season for the first poll.
Swimming World has been invited as a media member to participate in the polling process, and has a vote in each poll. Jeff Commings serves as Swimming World’s representative on these weekly conference calls.
1. Southern California (2-0, 2-0 Pac 12)
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Results
W at Washington State (10/9), 150-106
W at Oregon State (10/18), 153-107
SMU Classic (10/17-18), 4th place
Next competition: Friday and Saturday at USC Invite
The Trojans were busy in October, taking down conference foe Washington State then splitting up for the SMU Classic and the Oregon State dual. Despite a fourth-place finish in Dallas, USC gets the top spot to kick off the dual meet season thanks to the efforts of national champion Kendyl Stewart and stalwarts Chelsea Chenault and Jasmine Tosky.
2. Georgia (4-0, 2-0 SEC)
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Results
W vs. Vanderbilt (9/24), 153-94
W vs. Alabama (10/10), 164-130
W at North Carolina (10/17), 164-136
W at NC State (10/18), 183.5-114.5
Next competition: Oct. 31 at Florida
The Lady Bulldogs find themselves in familiar territory at this point in the season. In the first poll of the 2013-2014 season, Georgia was ranked second after four dual meet wins in decisive fashion. Athletes such as Amber McDermott, Brittany MacLean and Kylie Stewart have helped showcase Georgia’s overall strengths.
3. Florida (3-0, 3-0 SEC)
Photo Courtesy: Peter H.Bick
Results
W vs. Arkansas (9/27), 189.5-110.5
Pinch-A-Penny Invitational (10/3-5), first place
W vs. LSU (10/10), 166-134
W at Kentucky (10/16), 161-137
Next competition: Oct. 31 vs. Georgia
Losing Elizabeth Beisel to graduation doesn’t seem to have affected the Gators in the early goings of this season. Led by Natalie Hinds, Florida is showing impressive speed in October.
4. California (0-0, 0-0 Pac 12)
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Results
Pinch-A-Penny Invitational (10/3-5), second place
Next competition: Thursday vs. Oregon State
California’s team, led by a recovering Missy Franklin, visited Florida and showed their dominance in the backstroke events, as well as a strong IM squad with Celina Li and others doing well.
5. North Carolina (1-1, 0-0 ACC)
Photo Courtesy: David Farr
Results
W vs. Tennessee (10/10), 204-96
L vs. Georgia (10/17), 164-136
Next competition: Saturday vs. Virginia Tech
North Carolina’s middle distance and distance freestylers put Tennessee to the test a couple of weeks ago, then challenged Georgia’s depth the following week with some close races. The Tar Heels have an impressive diving squad that helped greatly with the points, even sweeping some of the diving events in the first two meets.
6. Minnesota (2-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
Photo Courtesy: Peter H.Bick
Results
W at Arizona State (10/4), 191-101
W vs. Wisconsin (10/17), 203-95
Next competition: Friday vs. North Dakota
Whether at home or on the road, Minnesota is not afraid to race. The reigning Big Ten champions started their season with a showcase of their depth across all events, taking down conference rival Wisconsin quite handily, with able assists from a top-notch diving team.
7. Texas A&M (1-0, 1-0 SEC)
Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott
Results
W at Arkansas (10/18), 170-120
Next competition: Saturday vs. Wisconsin
Texas A&M’s women’s team did not lose a dual meet last season, aided by the unstoppable Breeja Larson. With the multiple NCAA champion now graduated, the Aggies will face a tougher road this season but have started strong against powerful Arkansas. The seniors are leading the charge so far, but the depth is being handled in the lower placing by the underclassmen at the season’s beginnings.
8. Auburn (3-0, 1-0 SEC)
Photo Courtesy: Anthony Hall
Results
W at Indiana (10/10), 129-113
W vs. Notre Dame (10/18), 192-102
W vs. Vanderbilt (10/18), 201-75
Next competition: Nov. 1 vs. LSU at Alabama
Auburn’s devotion to sprint relays and the sprint freestyles helped the women’s team beat a strong Indiana team, with a couple sweeps of the top three places helping secure the victory over Indiana. The same held true in the tri-meet against Notre Dame and Vanderbilt, two teams that could not match Auburn’s freestyle depth.
9. Louisville (2-0, 0-0 ACC)
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Results
W vs. Xavier (10/10), 204-56
SMU Classic (10/17-18), second place
Next competition: Friday vs. Indiana and Texas at Michigan
Tanja Kylliainen and Kelsi Worrell were the MVPs at the SMU Classic, putting up some nation-leading times to help the Cardinals notch the second-place finish.
10. Arizona (2-0, 1-0 Pac 12)
Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott
Results
W vs. Wisconsin (10/4), 180-101
W at Washington State (10/17), 172-89
Next competition: Nov. 1 vs. Utah at UNLV
Bonnie Brandon, the Wildcats’ utility player, was a big part of the win against Wisconsin, with Emma Schoettmer and Tjasa Oder also contributing well.
11. Southern Methodist (0-0, 0-0 American)
Photo Courtesy: Azaria Basile
Results
UNT Relays (9/26), third place
SMU Classic (10/17-18), third place
Next competition: Oct. 31 vs. Rice
Though not yet racing in a dual-meet format, the Mustangs are showing some promise at the start of the season. A third-place finish as host of the SMU Classic showed some strength in a wide variety of events, though the swims by Rachel Nicol and Tara-Lynn Nicholas in the breaststrokes were the highlights of the meet. Nicol’s 1:00.18 in the 100 breast is the fastest in the collegiate rankings.
12. Tennessee (2-1, 0-1 SEC)
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Results
W at UNC-Wilmington (9/26), 166-120
W at Queens (10/9), 157-45
L at North Carolina (10/10), 204-96
Next competition: Oct. 31 vs. Indiana and Kentucky
The score in the dual meet against UNC-Wilmington made it seem closer than it was, with the Volunteers getting the season started with two wins before falling victim to a powerful North Carolina team.
13. Stanford (1-0, 1-0 Pac 12)
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Results
W at Utah (9/26), 174-124
Next competition: Friday vs. Oregon State
The Cardinal are starting the season slowly, picking off Utah in a dual meet with many of the key players not showing much at this phase of the season.
14. Penn State (5-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Photo Courtesy: Mark Selders
Results
W vs. Georgia Tech (10/3), 170-119
W at Virginia Tech (10/18), 197-156
W vs. Old Dominion (at Virginia Tech) (10/18), 285-68
W vs. Liberty (at Virginia Tech) (10/18), 270-74
W vs. James Madison (at Virginia Tech) (10/18), 274-79
Next competition: Oct. 31 vs. Villanova
Taking down four schools in one meet is always a challenge, but it looked like it was no problem for the Nittany Lions, who also managed to defeat a talented Virginia Tech team to start the season.
15. Louisiana State (1-1, 0-1 SEC)
Photo Courtesy: Kyle Zedaker, LSU Athletics
Results
W vs. Tulane (10/3), 220-80
L at Florida (10/10), 166-134
SMU Classic (10/17-18), sixth place
LSU’s surprise win at the SMU Classic was a big part of getting the Tigers into the top 15. Kara Kopsco was a standout at all three meets for LSU and will be a big factor in keeping LSU’s spot in the coaches’ poll.
16. Wisconsin (1-2, 0-1 Big Ten)
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Results
W at Arizona State (10/3), 142-94
L at Arizona (10/4), 196-104
L at Minnesota (10/10), 203-95
Next competition: November 7 at California
As he did in the previous season, head coach Whitney Hite is taking his team on the road often this season, facing some very tough competition. The lack of depth in many events, including freestyles, shows in the losses but Ivy Martin’s leadership keeps Wisconsin in the conversation.
17. Michigan (2-0, 2-0 Big Ten)
Photo Courtesy: Daryl Marshke
Results
W at Iowa (10/4), 188.5-105.5
W vs. Nebraska (at Iowa) (10/4), 182-112
Next competition: Friday vs. Texas, Indiana, Louisville
Clara Smiddy had a strong debut for the Wolverines, notching two wins in the tri-meet against Iowa and Nebraska to give Michigan a strong weapon in the backstroke events.
18. UCLA (1-0, 1-0 Pac 12)
Photo Courtesy: UCLA Athletics
Results
W vs. Washington State (10/10), 143-104
Next competition: Saturday vs. Brigham Young at UC-Santa Barbara
Winning 11 of 14 events, UCLA continued to show off the dual-meet depth they are known to bring to every competition against Washington state. Katy Campbell, the USA Swimming national champion in the 1500, swam off events in her first meet of the season but will be a big point scorer in distance freestyle when needed.
19. N.C. State (0-1, 0-0 ACC)
Photo Courtesy: NC State
Results
All-North Carolina Invite (10/3-4), first place
SMU Classic (10/17-18), fifth place
L vs. Georgia (10/18), 183.5-114.5
Next competition: Saturday vs. Florida State at Georgia Tech
Though feeling the stress of not having their top nine swimmers and divers at the dual meet against Georgia, the NC State women fought just as hard as their male counterparts to keep Georgia on their toes throughout the meet.
20. Indiana (0-1, 0-0 Big Ten)
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Results
L vs. Auburn (10/10), 126-113
Next competition: Friday vs. Louisville and Texas at Michigan
Indiana’s strength in the non-freestyle events and in diving couldn’t get them the win over Auburn, as the Tigers’ freestyle strength was too much to handle. Brooklynn Snodgrass’ stellar 1:53.97 in the 200 backstroke leads the nation to give Indiana a big positive note on which to start the dual meet season.
21. Alabama (1-1, 0-1 SEC)
Photo Courtesy: Amelia J. Brackin
Results
W vs. Delta State (9/12), 216-79
L at Georgia (10/10), 164-130
Starting the season in mid-September helped showcase some of Alabama’s talents early, and a loss to Georgia still brought forth some fast swimming from the Crimson Tide. A disqualification in the 200 medley relay – the first event – likely had an effect on the team’s performance in the rest of the meet.
22. Arkansas (0-2, 0-2 SEC)
Photo Courtesy: Arkansas Athletics
Results
L at Florida (9/27), 189.5-110.5
L vs. Texas A&M (10/18), 170-120
Next competition: Friday vs. Missouri
Losing two dual meets to start the season didn’t keep the Razorbacks out of the top 25. Arkansas has depth to keep meets close, as they showed in the loss to Texas A&M where they won no events but had a few races where they placed second through fourth.
23. Boise State (2-0, 0-0 Mountain West)
Photo Courtesy: Boise State Athletics
Results
W vs. Utah (10/8), 156.5-143.5
W at Idaho (10/11), 211-89
Next competition: Oct. 31 at Oregon State
Boise State overcame a deficit late in the meet against Utah to pull out the win, and carried that over into a dominating performance against Idaho a few days later.
24. Purdue (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Photo Courtesy: Purdue Athletics
Results
W vs. Miami (Ohio) (10/17), 199-94
Indiana Intercollegiates (10/18), first place
Next competition: Friday vs. Cincinnati at Ohio State
Hosting a major competition at home worked to Purdue’s advantage, and the Boilermakers’ impressive diving squad went a long way to help win the Indiana Intercollegiates.
25. Florida State (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
Photo Courtesy: Florida State Athletics
Results
Pinch-A-Penny Invite (10/3-5), fourth place
Next competition: Saturday vs. NC State at Georgia Tech
The Seminoles held their own at the Pinch-A-Penny Invite against a strong squad from California and the always-reliable Gators.
You have to be kidding me! They just get 4th in SMU Invite and now you have them #1????
you realize that the team split that weekend, right?
i did realize that but their studs were in Dallas. NCST was ahead of them and they were split too!
Virginia and Texas left out of the Top 25 poll????
Makes no sense at all….
UVa not ranked because they have yet to compete. As stated above, each ranking is designed to “produce an in-season poll of the 25 best-performing teams in rank order at the time of each poll . . . Further, rankings are only based on performances that have taken place up to that point in the season . . . This first poll ranking of the season is missing some notable teams that have not yet competed in dual or invitational meets. The committee does not consider teams that have yet to post official times in the current college season for the first poll.”
UGA’s Stewart is Kylie! LSU won the SMU classic and put up some great times. And Cal and Stanford, though with huge potential, haven’t really swam much to show that yet. So ranking is a little surprising.
Women of Troy……Fight On.
Really, the Texas women not in the top 25?
What am I missing here?