ST. LOUIS – For the second-consecutive season, the Illinois State swimming and diving team was picked to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference in the league's annual pre-season poll.
"This team has attacked the pre-season with excitement and a hungry energy," said head coach Caitlin Hamilton. "We're thankful for a more normal approach to the year and ready to see what we can accomplish within the Valley."
The 'Birds will rely heavily on their 20 student-athletes returning from the 2020-21 squad. Among those returning are First Team All-MVC swimmers Emily Keebler, Madyson Morse and Lauren Naeger and all four members of ISU's third place finishing 800-yard freestyle relay team (Olivia Gonder, Raegan Follis, Diana Walker & Mikayla Jasek).