COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference released their annual Men's Swimming & Diving Preseason Poll on Wednesday and Incarnate Word was tabbed to finish in second place with eight points and two first place votes.

The Cardinals were picked behind Grand Canyon who had six points and four first place votes.  Following the Cardinals were Colorado Mines (14 points), Colorado Mesa (16 points), UT-Permian Basin (22 points) and Adams State (24 points).

The Cardinals had five athletes named to the RMAC Preseason All-Conference Team.  Senior Thiago Parravicini (Rio de Janiero, Brazil/C.E.L.) was the second place vote-getter for the Preseason Athlete of the Year award that went to Grand Canyon's Eetu Karvonen.  Parravicini nabbed four All-America awards last year getting second in the 200-meter breast stroke, fourth in the 100-meter breast stroke, third in the 200-meter medley relay and he placed in the 200-meter individual medley.

Joining Parravicini on the preseason squad were senior Conrado Chede (Rio de Janiero, Brazil/Universal HS), senior Mark Rubin (Phoenix, AZ/Shadow Mountain HS), junior Daniel Torres (Chihuahua, Mexico/COBACH 3) and junior Aaron Norton (Tyler/Grace Community).  Chede qualified for four individual events and one relay at the 2012 NCAA Division II National Championships.  Rubin was a three-time All-American in 2012, including a second place finish in the 1000 meters.  He was also a First Team Capital One Academic All-American and RMAC Academic Male Swimmer of the Year.  Torres picked up five All-America honors in 2012 in the 200-meter backstroke, 100-meter backstroke, 200-meter individual medley, 400-meter individual medley and 200-meter medley relay.

The Cardinals first official meet is at North Texas on October 19-20.  The RMAC Championships are scheduled for February 13-16.
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