Richmond, Va.----The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) has released its 2026-27 Division II preseason top 25 national rankings this week. The Wingate men are No. 5, while the Bulldog women are No. 10. Drury is No. 1 on the men's side, while Nova Southeastern opens the season at No. 1 in the women's rankings.
 
Both Wingate teams are picked to win the 2027 Conference Carolinas championship meets. Wingate and four other South Atlantic Conference schools are new to the Conference Carolinas this year as associate members in men's and women's swimming. Wingate won eight-of-eight SAC championships (four men, four women) while the SAC sponsored swimming.
 
Next on the Agenda

The Bulldogs will host their annual team time trials exhibition Friday at 3:30 p.m. in the WU Natatorium. Wingate opens its 2026-27 regular season October 9-10, venturing to Michigan for the Grand Valley State University Invitational. The Bulldogs open the home portion of the 2026-27 schedule on Friday, October 16, hosting league foe Catawba for a 1 p.m. dual meet.
 
The CSCAA rankings
 
The rankings are voted on by committees of Division II coaches representing a cross-section of programs and conferences throughout the country. Poll committee members evaluate teams based on head-to-head performances, nationally ranked performances, significant performances achieved since the previous poll, results from invitational and championship-style competition, and the quality and depth of performances across events.

Together, these criteria are intended to provide a comprehensive assessment of each program's performance at the time of the poll, while recognizing the different competitive opportunities and formats that occur throughout the collegiate season.
 
The CSCAA
 
Founded in 1922, the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA), is the nation's first organization of college coaches. The mission of the CSCAA is to advance the sport of swimming and diving with coaches at the epicenter of leadership, advocacy and professional development.
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 18 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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