Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Swimming And Diving Nominated To Place Fourth
10/25/2002 8:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Oct. 25, 2002
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell's men's swimming and diving have been tabbed to place fourth in the 2003 Patriot League Championship. The Bison tallied 44 points, and one first place nomination, among the league's head coaches and sports information directors during the preseason poll.
The Lehigh men's team is the pre-season favorite with 69 votes and nine first place nods. The Mountain Hawks claimed first place in the 2002 Championship with a total of 694 points. Army, which had 57 points, three first place votes, edged American for the second seat in the pre-season poll. American grabbed one first place vote and received 52 points.
Bucknell, the host of the Patriot League Championship, has a concrete set of leaders returning with all-stars Stephen Schwanhausser, a senior, and Jack Sheehan, a junior. The Orange and Blue, led by head coach Jerry Foley, return to the pool with 19 returning letterwinners. Senior tri-captains Chris Feinthel, Geoffery Konopka, and Steven Schwanhausser will guide the team through the 2002-03 season.
"We continue to keep strength to the program, having only lost one member to graduation and returning a great number of letterwinners," mentioned head coach Jerry Foley. "We are strong from top to bottom and this is needed to win a championship. We also have the advantage of having all the men's and women's teams train together in the new aquatics complex, which will increase the energy and enthusiasm of the team."
Bucknell will open their schedule with the annual Blue vs. Orange scrimmage on Friday, Oct. 25. The Bison will sponsor a sprint invitational meet Nov. 9 and then begin competition against Patriot League opponents American, Navy, and Army. In January and early February, the Bison will play host to Lafayette and Lehigh. At the end of February, Bucknell will host the Patriot League Championships in the new natatorium.
2003 Patriot League Men's Swimming and Diving Preseason Poll
Team, Points (1st), 2002 Finish
1. Lehigh, 69 (9), 1st; 2. Army, 57 (3), 3rd; 3. American, 52 (1), 2nd; 4. Bucknell, 44 (1), 4th; 5. Colgate, 34, 5th; 6. Lafayette, 24, 6th; 7. Holy Cross, 14, 7th
