BURNSVILLE, Minn. -- Augustana All-American Taylor Beagle has been selected as the NSIC Preseason Swimmer of the Year while the Vikings' swimming team has been picked to finish fourth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll the conference office announced on Tuesday.

Beagle, a native of Lead, South Dakota, was the 2020 NSIC Swimmer of the Year while also earning Swimmer of the Meet honors at the NSIC Championships. At the 2020 championships, Beagle claimed three individual championships; 1000-yard freestyle, 400-yard IM and the 1650-yard freestyle. 

She is a three-time NCAA Championships qualifier and has earned All-America honors in the 1000 and 1650 freestyle events.

Head coach Lindsie Micko enters her fifth season at the helm of the Augustana swimming program. During the regular season last year, the Vikings earned their first-ever national ranking, checking in at No. 22 of the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America Top-25 poll. Two Vikings also made their appearances at the National Championships in Destini Oehlertz and Taylor Beagle. Both were honored with All-America accolades following the cancellation of the partial event.

The second-ever senior class for the Viking swimming program tallies five swimmers while the roster breakdown continues with five juniors, eight sophomores and four freshmen. 

Augustana plans to announce its 2021 swimming schedule in the coming weeks. 

2020-21 NSIC Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll

    1. St. Cloud State (8)                   64

    2. Minnesota State                      55

    3. Sioux Falls (1)                         51

    4. Augustana                               44

    5. University of Mary                   33

    6. MSU Moorhead                       26

    7. Northern State                        22

    8. Southwest Minnesota State    20

    9. Concordia-St. Paul                   9

--GoAugie.com--