CLEVELAND, Ohio – According to a poll of Horizon League head coaches, the Cleveland State University men's swimming and diving team has been projected to finish second in the League in 2016-17.
The CSU men are coming off of a runner-up finish at the 2016 Horizon League Championships as they scored 597.5 points in the meet.
Oakland was named the preseason favorite with 36 points while CSU claimed one first-place vote and garnered 29 points.
Wright State (27 points), Milwaukee (21), UIC (17), Green Bay (12) and Valparaiso (6) placed in spots three though seven, respectively.
Cleveland State brings back 14 student-athletes that scored in individual events at last year's league championships, a group headlined by First Team All-American Philipp Sikatzki. Sikatzki won three events at last year's Horizon League Championships and was named the league's Swimming Athlete of the Year. He went on to post a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships in the 100 butterfly.
Sophomore Tommi Wolst returns for CSU after having a strong rookie season in which he finished among the top three in three individual events at the league championships, posting NCAA "B" cut times in both the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke. Junior Jonathan LaValle finished among the top five in both backstroke events at the league meet last year while six additional teammates return that garnered top-eight finishes in at least one event at last year's league championships.
Cleveland State has finished first or second at the Horizon League Championships nine times in the past 12 years. CSU also has had an athlete win Men's Swimming Athlete of the Year in all but four years since the award was introduced in 2004.
The Vikings opened their season Oct. 7-8 at the Colgate Fall Classic and will compete in their first dual meet Friday, Oct. 21, at St. Bonaventure.
2016-17 Horizon League Men's Swimming & Diving Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) – Points
1. Oakland (6) – 36
2. Cleveland State (1) – 29
3. Wright State – 27
4. Milwaukee – 21
5. UIC – 17
6. Green Bay – 12
7. Valparaiso – 6
