CARMEL, Ind - The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) has announced the results of its men’s swimming & diving preseason coaches’ poll on Wednesday afternoon with six-time defending HCAC Champion Rose-Hulman taking the top spot. The Fightin’ Engineers earned 16 points in the poll and four of a possible five first place votes.
Franklin took the second spot with 13 points and the final first place vote. Transylvania’s 10 points were good enough for third place, while Manchester and Anderson collected seven and four points, respectively, to round out the poll.
RHIT has a strong core returning, including 2026 Co-Swimmer of the Meet of the Year Trevor Wiley (Indianapolis, Ind.). Other returning HCAC Champions include Levi Galaviz (Salt Lake City, Utah), Andrew Geiger (Independence, Ky.), Walter Kotlin (Lowell, Ind.), Ethan Moen (Wilmington, Del.), Eric Sinclair (Overland Park, Kan.).
The season will culminate in the 2027 HCAC Swimming and Diving Championships at Vigo County Aquatic Center. The championship meet is scheduled for Feb. 10-13.
2026-27 HCAC Men's Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll Results
| 1. |
Rose-Hulman |
16 (4) |
| 2. |
Franklin |
13 (1) |
| 3. |
Transylvania |
10 |
| 4. |
Manchester |
7 |
| 5. |
Anderson |
4 |
2026-27 Team-by-Team Capsules
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Fightin’ Engineers (Terre Haute, Ind.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = First place with 16 poll points and four first place votes.
Head Coach = Keith Crawford (2026 Coach of the Meet)
2026 Championship Result = 1st Place (857 points)
Returning HCAC Champions = 6
- Levi Galaviz, Sophomore, Salt Lake City, Utah (HCAC Champion - 400 Medley Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay)
- Andrew Geiger, Junior, Independence, Ky. (HCAC Champion - 1-Meter Diving)
- Walter Kotlin, Senior, Lowell, Ind. (HCAC Champion - 200 Medley Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay)
- Ethan Moen, Junior, Wilmington, Del. (HCAC Champion - 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay)
- Eric Sinclair, Junior, Overland Park, Kan. (HCAC Champion - 100 Breaststroke, 200 Breaststroke, 400 Medley Relay)
- Trevor Wiley, Junior, Indianapolis, Ind. (2026 Co-Swimmer of the Meet; HCAC Champion - 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 Butterfly, 400 Medley Relay)
Other Performers to Watch =
- Will Ho, Freshman, Bellevue, Wash.
- Eliot Riem, Sophomore, South Bend, Ind.
- David Rozenbergas, Freshman, Morton Grove, Ill.
Franklin College Grizzlies (Franklin, Ind.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Second place with 13 poll points and one first place vote.
Head Coach = Jennifer Brinegar
2026 Championship Result = 2nd Place (624 points)
Returning HCAC Champions = 5
- Kaden Cummins, Senior, Lawrenceburg, Ind. (HCAC Champion - 200 Freestyle Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay)
- Sam Hittel, Junior, Indianapolis, Ind. (HCAC Champion - 800 Freestyle Relay)
- Zachary Jackson-Blaine, Senior, Kingston, Jamaica (HCAC Champion - 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay)
- Isaac Layton, Junior, Franklin, Ind. (HCAC Champion - 500 Freestyle, 800 Freestyle Relay)
- Keaton Stephenson, Sophomore, Columbus, Ind. (2026 Newcomer of the Meet; HCAC Champion - 200 Freestyle, 800 Freestyle Relay)
Other Performers to Watch =
- Grayer Belaire, Freshman, Fishers, Ind.
- Will Chambley, Freshman, Westfield, Ind.
- Bryson Howe, Sophomore, Terre Haute, Ind.
- Chris Mains, Sophomore, Greensburg, Ind.
Transylvania Pioneers (Lexington, Ky.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Third place with 10 poll points.
Head Coach = Dave Doolin
2026 Championship Result = 3rd Place (519 points)
Performers to Watch =
- Carter Knowles, Freshman, Greenville, Ky.
- Kyle Rodgers, Freshman, Lexington, Ky.
Manchester University Spartans (North Manchester, Ind.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Fourth place with seven poll points.
Head Coach = Darren Ridenour
2026 Championship Result = 4th Place (384 points)
Performers to Watch =
- Peter Kotlin, Junior, Lowell, Ind.
Anderson University Ravens (Anderson, Ind.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Fifth place with four poll points.
Head Coach = Nathan Manley
2026 Championship Result = 5th Place (267 points)
Performers to Watch =
- Ethan Scialabba, Senior, Evergreen Park, Ill.
- Jonah Taylor, Freshman, Coatesville, Ind.
- Jordan Vick, Freshman, Mesa, Ariz.
- Avery Wright, Sophomore, New Richmond, Ind.