Men's & Women's Swimming Picked to Finish 6th & 8th in ASC

URBANA, Ohio (October 5, 2012) - In an unanimous decision by the league’s coaches, the Wheeling Jesuit men’s and women’s swimming teams were picked to repeat as Appalachian Swimming Conference Champions. Each team received the full complement of first-place votes in the ASC’s inaugural preseason poll.

On the women’s side, Asbury is picked to finish second, and Notre Dame College is picked to finish third; this order reflects the order of finish from 2012.  Coming off a 10th place finish in 2012, the Urbana University women's swim team is predicted to improve to 8th place this winter.  Fourteen schools make up the ASC on the women's side.

On the men’s side, Asbury is picked to finish second and Mars Hill is picked to rise up in the rankings and finish third.  With the loss of 2-time conference champion Paul Miller in the 50 free, the Blue Knights are picked to slide back one spot in 2013.  Urbana was 5th of 12 squads last season, but they are slotted in the #6 spot this season.  Head Coach Dave Johnson earned ASC Coach of the Year honors on the men's side last season after seeing his program rise the ASC ladder.  The conference season has officially begun, as this past week Brenau, Mars Hill, and Milligan saw action in the water.

The Wheeling Jesuit men’s swimming team will be seeking their fourth consecutive title in 2013. The Cardinals completed the 3-peat a year ago and has won every championship since the ASC inception in 2009-10 season.  Henrique Fructuozo added a second-consecutive ASC Men’s Swimmer of the Year award in 2012, touching first in four of the men’s top five finishes.

The Wheeling Jesuit women’s team won back-to-back runner-up awards in 2010 and 2011, but flew to the league’s championship in 2012. Lydia Kidd and Emily Martin led the Cardinals last season and look to do the same this year. Kidd won five events at last year’s meet, while Martin placed first in three events and was named ASC Women’s Swimmer of the Year in 2010 and 2011.

Urbana's first meet this fall is slated for Saturday, October 20th at non-conference opponent Lake Erie College.  The first home meet of the 2012-13 season is set for Friday, November 2nd against Bethany College.

The complete ASC Preseason Coaches' Poll is as follows:

Women's Poll
1 Wheeling Jesuit University
2 Asbury University
3 Notre Dame College
4 Brenau University
5 Mars Hill College
6 Union College (Ky)
7 Milligan College
8 Urbana University
9 King College
10 WVU Institute of Technology
11 Warren Wilson College
12 Ursuline College
13 LaGrange College
14 Berea College

Men's Poll
1 Wheeling Jesuit University
2 Asbury University
3 Mars Hill College
4 Union College
5 Notre Dame College
6 Urbana University
7 Milligan College
8 King College
9 WVU Institute of Technology
10 Warren Wilson College
11 LaGrange College
12 Berea College