Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Swimming and Diving Picked For Successful Defense of Patriot League Title
10/14/2003 8:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Oct. 14, 2003
Lewisburg, Pa. - The defending Patriot League champion Bucknell women's swimming and diving team is expected to defend successfully its league title this February in Annapolis, Md., according to league voters who picked Bucknell first in the 2003-04 preseason poll.
"It's not surprising that the defending champions would get a lot of votes. I definitely see Navy's women as a challenge to us, but I expect us to contend for another league title," said Bucknell Head Coach Jerry Foley. "Recent history, though, has shown that it will be very difficult to repeat as league champions." The last back-to-back champion was Lehigh in 2000 and 2001.
The Bison earned 96 poll points to second-place Navy's 83. The defending champions and the 2004 Patriot League Championship hosts split the first place votes, with Bucknell collecting 12 and Navy earning four.
Rounding out the poll, Lehigh finished third with 60 points, while Army and Colgate finished tied for fourth with 59 points. American finished sixth with 47 points, while Lafayette finished seventh with 27 points and Holy Cross eighth with 17 points. The voting body included Patriot League coaches and sports information directors.
The Bison will have nine seniors between the swimmers and divers on the squad this season, and will commence their season with the Orange and Blue meet this Saturday, October 18, at 11 a.m. The regular season will begin November 8, also at Kinney Natatorium, with the Bucknell Sprint Invitational against West Chester, Bloomsburg, and Penn.
School Points (1st Place Votes) 2003 Finish 1. Bucknell 96 (12) 1st 2. Navy 83 (4) 2nd 3. Lehigh 60 3rd T4. Army 59 5th T4. Colgate 59 4th 6. American 47 6th 7. Lafayette 27 8th 8. Holy Cross 17 7th
