Cummings Named PL Swimmer of the Week; Bison Picked Third in Preseason Poll

10/4/2016 4:00:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving

By: TBD

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell sophomore Chadd Cummings has been named the season's first Patriot League Male Swimmer of the Week after his performance in an unscored meet against UMBC on Saturday. Additionally, the league released its preseason poll, which had the Bison picked to finish third in the conference this season.

Cummings finished first in the 100 breast and added a runner-up finish in the 200 breast against UMBC, which is the two-time defending champion in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association. He was also a part of the 200 medley relay team that took second.

Cummings is coming off a freshman season that saw him score 21 points at the Patriot League Championships. He owns the program's third-fastest time in the 200 breast and the fourth-fastest time in the 100 breast.

Bucknell finished third in the preseason poll with 125 points. Only 13-time defending champion Navy and Army West Point finished ahead of the Bison. The Mids garnered 160 points and 16 first-place votes, while the Black Knights finished with 146 points and received four first-place votes. Boston University (116), Lehigh (103), Loyola (82), Colgate (61), Lafayette (45), American (44), and Holy Cross (18) rounded out the final seven spots in the poll.

The Bison were picked fourth in the preseason poll last season and have finished fourth at the Patriot League Championships in each of the past three seasons. They have finished in the top half of the team standings in 25 of the past 26 seasons.

Bucknell returns 11 swimmers that scored at last year's championship meet, including Chris Devlin. The junior was named the Male Swimmer of the Meet after scoring 55 points and winning two events with meet- and school-record times.

Returning swimmers that joined Devlin with all-conference accolades are seniors Louis Behnen and Jack Robinson. Behnen tallied 46 points at the league meet, while Robinson finished with 43.

Mitch Buccalo (26), Cummings (21), Denver Freeman (14), Sam Rutan (10), Charlie McFarland (9), Sam Mackie (6), Vince Filippini (2), and Tarik Lott (1) also scored points at the 2016 Patriot League Championships.

2016-17 Patriot League Men's Swimming and Diving Preseason Poll
1.     Navy, 160 points (16 first-place votes)
2.     Army West Point, 146 points (4)
3.     Bucknell, 125 points
4.     Boston University 116 points
5.     Lehigh, 103 points
6.     Loyola Maryland, 82 points
7.     Colgate, 61 points
8.     Lafayette, 45 points
9.     American, 44 points
10.  Holy Cross, 18 points