COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec. 23, 2021) – Oklahoma Christian's men's swimming team soared seven spots to No. 13 in the most recent NCAA Division II coaches' poll, released last week by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America.

The first national ranking for OC's program, now in its fifth season of competition, came in the preseason CSCAA poll, when the Eagles were No. 18. OC slipped two spots to No. 20 in the poll released in early November, before the Eagles put on a powerful performance in the Eagle Invitational.

At that meet, held Nov. 11-13 in Edmond, Okla., five OC swimmers recorded a total of 10 NCAA Division II B qualifying times. Freshman J.T. Amrein recorded the fastest times in the nation to that point in three events (the 200-yard individual medley, 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke) and junior Brandon Heredia posted the fastest time in Division II to that point in the 200 freestyle and the No. 2 time to that point in the 100 freestyle.

The Eagles, coached by Josh Davis, are one of three Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference teams in the top 25, joining No. 4 Colorado Mesa and No. 18 Colorado School of Mines.

The top 10 consisted of Indianapolis (Ind.), Queens (N.C.), Drury (Mo.), Colorado Mesa, McKendree (Ill.), Grand Valley State (Mich.), Florida Southern, Wingate (N.C.), Findlay (Ohio) and Lindenwood (Mo.). No. 11 Northern Michigan and No. 12 Emmanuel (Ga.) also are ranked ahead of OC, which had 71 points in the poll. Lindenwood, at No. 10, had 98 points.

OC will face Drury in a dual meet in Springfield, Mo., on Jan. 29 and will see Colorado Mesa and Colorado Mines in the RMAC Championships in Grand Junction, Colo., from Feb. 9-12. The Eagles will open their second-semester schedule with a dual at Division III No. 18-ranked Trinity (Texas) on Jan. 7, followed by a dual at Division I Incarnate Word. Both those duals will be in San Antonio.