Sophomore diver Jessica Wilde
For the second year Incarnate Word’s women’s swimming team will be an associate member of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMAC) and for the second year the Cardinals have been tagged as the pre-season favorites as league champions.
Additionally, sophomore Jessica Wilde has been named as the pre-season diver of the year.
A year ago, their first in the RMAC, the women were tabbed as the favorites and they did live up to the billing by winning the league title prior to finishing 16th at the NCAA Division II National Championships.
Wilde last spring won the RMAC title in the one-meter event before finishing fourth in the three-meter. She was named All-RMAC for her efforts. After that she was honorable mention All-America based on her 15th place finish in the one-meter.
While the RMAC coaches were voting on the team favorite and outstanding individuals in the pre-season they also named a pre-season all-conference squad and UIW was dominant. Of the 10 swimmers and divers listed four were from Incarnate Word—junior Paulina Alexander, senior Rachel Watson, senior Nora Szilagyi, and junior Leslie Murray.
The RMAC championships are scheduled for February 11 to 13 at a site to be determined.
RMAC PRE-SEASON POLL
1) Incarnate Word (6 first place votes) 10 points
2) Minnesota State / Moorhead (2) 19
3) Mesa State (Colo) (1) 23
4) Colorado Mines 30
5) Grand Canyon 33
6) Texas / Permian Basin 41
7) Northern State (SD) 51
8) Nebraska / Kearney 53
9) Adams State (Colo) 59