Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Rowing Picked First in Patriot League Preseason Poll
3/21/2012 8:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
March 21, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell women's rowing team is predicted to win its seventh consecutive Patriot League title, the league office announced Wednesday when the preseason poll was released. The Bison were unanimously picked first in the poll. Bucknell garnered 50 points and all 10 possible first-place votes.
Navy and MIT split the other two first-place votes as coaches and sports information directors were not allowed to vote for their own team.
The preseason poll mirrors the final standings from last April's Patriot League Championships, which Bucknell won with 33 points and victories in the varsity eight and second varsity eight races. Navy is predicted to finish second in the league, while Colgate is picked third. Holy Cross, MIT and Lehigh round out the final three spots in the poll.
This is the sixth consecutive year Bucknell has been atop the Patriot League Preseason Poll.
The Bison have had plenty of success at the Patriot League Championships in recent years as the varsity eight has been named Boat of the Year six straight years and Stephen Kish has claimed Coach of the Year honors five times in the last six years.
This year's Patriot League Championships (April 29) will move back to the Cooper River in Cherry Hill, N.J., after taking place on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass., last spring. This will be the fourth time in a five-year span the event will be on the Cooper River.
Bucknell opens its 2012 campaign Saturday at the Murphy Cup. The Bison, who have captured the overall points trophy at the Murphy Cup four times in the last five years, advanced three boats to the finals last March.
2012 Patriot League Rowing Preseason Poll
1. Bucknell - 50 (10 first-place votes)
2. Navy - 40 (1)
3. Colgate - 31
4. Holy Cross - 26
5. MIT - 23 (1)
6. Lehigh - 10
