CARMEL, Ind - The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) has announced the results of its women's swimming & diving preseason coaches' poll on Wednesday afternoon with nine-time defending HCAC Champion Franklin looking to extend the streak as the preseason favorite. The Grizzlies earned 16 points in the poll and four of a possible five first place votes.
Rose-Hulman ranked second with 13 points and the final first place vote. Transylvania's 10 points placed it third, while Anderson and Manchester closed out the voting with seven and four points apiece.
Franklin will look to a key group of returners to keep their championship streak alive. Among them is 2025-26 Women's Swimming & Diving Athlete of the Year Celeste Hollis (Granger, Ind.) Also included in that group are 2026 HCAC Diver of the Meet
Alexis Fleming (Monroe, Ohio) and HCAC event champions
Petal Sloan (Cincinnati, Ohio) and
Avery Tomlinson (Littleton, Colo.).
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 Women's Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll Results
| 1. |
Franklin |
16 (4) |
| 2. |
Rose-Hulman |
13 (1) |
| 3. |
Transylvania |
10 |
| 4. |
Anderson |
7 |
| 5. |
Manchester |
4 |
2026-27 Team-by-Team Capsules
Franklin College Grizzlies (Franklin, Ind.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = First place with 16 poll points and four first place votes.
Head Coach = Jennifer Brinegar
2026 Championship Result = 1st Place (931 points)
Returning HCAC Champions = 4
- Alexis Fleming, Senior, Monroe, Ohio (2026 Diver of the Meet; HCAC Champion - 1-Meter Diving, 3-Meter Diving)
- Celeste Hollis, Senior, Granger, Ind. (2026 Swimming & Diving Athlete of the Year; HCAC Champion - 100 Butterfly, 200 Butterfly, 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay)
- Petal Sloan, Senior, Cincinnati, Ohio (HCAC Champion - 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle Relay, 400 Freestyle Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay, 400 Medley Relay)
- Avery Tomlinson, Senior, Littleton, Colo. (HCAC Champion - 100 Breaststroke, 200 Breaststroke, 200 IM, 400 Freestyle Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay)
Other Performers to Watch =
- Josie Blanchard, Freshman, Farmington, Mich.
- Avery Crabtree, Freshman, Akron, Ohio
- Macie McQuinn, Junior, Frankfort, Ind.
- Harley Morris, Sophomore, Connersville, Ind.
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Fightin' Engineers (Terre Haute, Ind.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Second place with 13 poll points and one first place vote.
Head Coach = Keith Crawford
2026 Championship Result = 2nd Place (570.5 points)
Returning HCAC Champions = 1
- Catherine Bath, Senior, Kokomo, Ind. (HCAC Champion - 500 Freestyle, 1650 Freestyle)
Other Performers to Watch =
- Ritu Bharamaraddi, Junior, Bengaluru, India
- Olivia Boner, Sophomore Fort Wayne, Ind.
- Allison Buroker, Freshman, Zionsville, Ind.
- Ellie Castleman, Sophomore, Fort Wayne, Ind.
- Janey Leiker, Sophomore, Spring, Texas
- Lilian Mahonski, Sophomore, Springsboro, Ohio
- Emma Staudigl, Sophomore, Bowdon, Ga.
- Avery Witt, Junior, North Vernon, 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 (502 points)
Performers to Watch =
- Maddie Cunningham, Freshman, Shelbyville, Ky.
- Makenzie Lovett, Freshman, Louisville, Ky.
- Felice Pappalardo, Freshman, Louisville, Ky.
- Riley Shaw, Sophomore, Lexington, Ky. (2026 Newcomer of the Meet)
Anderson University Ravens (Anderson, Ind.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Fourth place with seven poll points.
Head Coach = Nathan Manley
2026 Championship Result = 4th Place (380 points)
Performers to Watch =
- Talia Leer, Senior, Arcadia, Ind.
- Ryan Murphy, Freshman, Fishers, Ind.
- Ella Rector, Junior, Pendleton, Ind.
- Madalyn Sink, Junior, Huntington, Ind.
Manchester University Spartans (North Manchester, Ind.)
Predicted 2026-27 HCAC Finish = Fifth place with four poll points.
Head Coach = Darren Ridenour
2026 Championship Result = 7th Place (50 points)
Performers to Watch =
- Gracyn Bailey, Freshman, Avon, Ind.
- Haylie Bristol, Freshman, Demotte, Ind.
- Rachel Garcia, Sophomore, North Manchester, Ind.