COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference released their annual Women's Swimming & Diving Preseason Poll on Wednesday and Incarnate Word was tabbed to finish in second place with 10 points and two first place votes.  Senior Tamiris Nascimento (Rio de Janiero, Brazil/Salesianos) was named the RMAC Preseason Women's Swimming & Diving Athlete of the Year.

Nascimento returns to the Cardinals after earning three All-America honors last year in the 50-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle and 200-meter medley relay.  She was also the 2011 NCAA Division II National Champion in the 50-meter freestyle.

The Cardinals were picked behind Grand Canyon who had seven points and five first place votes.  Following the Cardinals were Colorado Mesa (17 points), Colorado Mines (24 points), UT-Permian Basin (25 points), Adams State (29 points) and Western State (35 points).

In addition to Nascimento, the Cardinals had three other swimmers chosen to the Preseason All-Conference Team.  Junior Molly Freeman (Houston/Clear Brook HS) earned All-America honors in the 1,650 meters last year with a 10^th place finish.  Sophomore Kaitlyn Whalen (Orlando, FL/Apopka HS) became the first Cardinal to swim at the U.S. Olympic Trials last summer and was the RMAC Female Freshman of the Year in 2012.  Junior Kelsey Cooke (Phoenix, AZ/Thunderbird HS) was a member of a pair of relay teams that earned All-America status in 2012.

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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