Appalachian Swimming Conference Releases Preseason Polls

The Appalachian Swimming Conference has released the pre-season polls for the men and women’s teams. Votes were cast by the head coaches of the member schools.

Leading the way for the men were defending champions, West Virginia University Institute of Technology. Despite recent head coach Chris Rogers leaving the program for a new career opportunity, the Golden Bears were tabbed to take the ASC Championship title once again. Wheeling Jesuit University and St. Andrews University filled out the top 3 rankings as both schools look to make strong contention for the title.  St. Andrews will look to fill the void in the sprint events with the loss of the NAIA National Champion in the 50-yard freestyle, David Lambert.

The following is the overall pre-season ranking for the men’s teams:

1. West Virginia University Institute of Technology, Montgomery, W. Va. (NAIA)
2. Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, W. Va. (NCAA DII)
3. Andrews University, Laurinburg, N.C. (NAIA)
4. Union College, Barbourville, Ky. (NAIA)
5. Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, N.C. (NCAA DII)
6. Emmanuel College, Franklin Springs, Ga. (NCAA DII)
7. Urbana University, Urbana, Ohio (NCAA DII)
8. Notre Dame College, South Euclid, Ohio (NCAA DII)
9. Asbury University, Wilmore, Ky. (NAIA)
10. Alderson Broaddus University, Philippi, W. Va. (NCAA DII)
11. King University, Bristol, Tenn. (NCAA DII)
12. Milligan College, Milligan, Tenn. (NAIA)
13. LaGrange College, LaGrange, Tenn. (NCAA DIII)

The women’s defending champions, Brenau University, and new head coach Nate Rhoads were tallied as the favorite for the women’s poll. Former head coach Blaire Bachman left the program to join the coach staff at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Wheeling Jesuit’s women mirrored the men’s program as the number two ranked team and Union College followed at third.

The following is the overall pre-season ranking for the women’s teams:

1. Brenau University, Gainesville, Ga. (NAIA)
2. Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, W. Va. (NCAA DII)
3. Union College, Barbourville, Ky. (NAIA)
4. Notre Dame College, South Euclid, Ohio (NCAA DII)
5. Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, N.C. (NCAA DII)
6. Urbana University, Urbana, Ohio (NCAA DII)
7. Emmanuel College, Franklin Springs, Ga. (NCAA DII)
8. Asbury University, Wilmore, Ky. (NAIA)
9. West Virginia University Institute of Technology, Montgomery, W. Va. (NAIA)
10. Alderson Broaddus University, Philippi, W. Va. (NCAA DII)
11. Andrews University, Laurinburg, N.C. (NAIA)
12. Columbia College, Columbia, S.C. (NAIA)
13. King University, Bristol, Tenn. (NCAA DII)
14. Milligan College, Milligan, Tenn. (NAIA)
15. LaGrange College, LaGrange, Ga. (NCAA DIII)

The 2015-2016 Appalachian Swimming Conference Championships will take place at Christiansburg Aquatic Center in Christiansburg, Va. The dates for the meet are February 11-13, 2016.

The ASC is a coach run conference consisting of college swimming programs throughout Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The conference boasts programs with affiliation of the NAIA, NCAA DII, and NCAA DIII.

Swimming news courtesy of Appalachian Swimming Conference.