RICHMOND, Va. – The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) released the 2022-23 Division II Top 25 Dual Meet January Poll with the Florida Southern College swimming teams in the top 25 ahead of the regular season finale.
Florida Southern men's swimming stayed at 16th in the nation from last month's poll, as the women's swimming team moved to 25th among Division II programs. The national rankings were released this morning before next month's conference championships.
The men's team remained at No. 16 on the national polls for consecutive months with a big win over Saint Leo University on Senior Day two weeks ago. In a close battle against Nova Southeastern, the men's team lost the final event for the Sharks to escape with a conference win. Most recently, the Mocs took on NJCAA national champion Indian River State College last week. Distance swimmer
Keith Peristeridis leads the Mocs with three total SSC Men's Swimmer of the Week awards this season, including the last two consecutive weeks. Peristeridis set a program record for most player of the week awards in a single season. In all, the men's team have six different athletes with B standard times thus far, many with top times in more than one event.
On the women's side, the Mocs beat Saint Leo as well on Senior Day after a loss to then No. 3 Nova Southeastern, who is now ranked first in the CSCAA poll. Last week against Indian River State College,
Erin McCann led the way with an event win in the 200 free, an event she already has a B standard time in. Despite the meet loss, several Mocs had podium finishes, including second place for
Olivia Miles (1000 free),
Teagan Michalek in the 100 back,
Elizabeth Sikes in the 200 fly, McCann in the 500 free, and Sikes again in the 100 fly. With the final meet before SSC Championships, the Mocs have six athletes with a B standard time. McCann (200 free, 500 free) and Miles (500 free, 400 IM) lead with two B standard times.
Maja Eriksson has one in the 500 free,
Emily Peck in the 200 breast, and
Allie Brinton and Sikes each in the 200 fly.
Florida Southern travels to Florida Tech this afternoon to face the Panthers in a regular-season finale at the Panther Aquatic Center. The Mocs will continue to prepare for the SSC Championships at the Long Center in Clearwater, Fla. Feb. 15-19.
