SJC Swimming Picked Third in Skyline Preseason Poll

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Defending champions Maritime and Mount Saint Mary have been selected to capture the 2015 Skyline men's and women's swimming titles, respectively, in voting conducted by the league's head coaches. The St. Joseph's Golden Eagles were picked third in the women's poll.

On the men's side, Maritime garnered four first-place votes and 24 overall points, while 2014 runner-up Mount Saint Mary earned a pair of first-place votes and 22 total points.  The seven-time defending champion Privateers will be led by senior captain Daniel Hemmer, who placed first in both the 100-yard (55.78) and 200-yard (2:15.2) butterfly events for the second consecutive year at the 2014 Skyline Championship. 

Purchase finished third in the voting on the men's side with 15 points, followed by Mount Saint Vincent (12), Sarah Lawrence (9) and Old Westbury (8).  OW welcomes back senior Bryan Woodhead, who has been named the Most Outstanding Performer at the league championship in each of the last two years.  

With the return of junior Lauren Becerra, Mount Saint Mary seeks to capture its fourth-straight women's title.  Becerra has earned Most Outstanding Performer distinction in each of the past two seasons and established a meet record in the 500-yard freestyle (5:29.53) a year ago while winning three individual events at the conference championship. 

Purchase (30), St. Joseph's (26) and first-year member Sarah Lawrence (21) all received first-place votes in the women's poll.  Maritime finished fifth in the voting with 15 points, followed by Mount Saint Vincent (13) and Old Westbury (11).   

The 2015 Skyline Men's & Women's Swimming Championships will be held on Jan. 30-31 at the Riesenberg Aquatic Center on the campus of Maritime College.

2014-15 Women's Swimming Coaches Poll
1. Mount Saint Mary (4) - 33 points
2. Purchase (1) - 30 points
3. St. Joseph's-L.I. (1) - 26 points
4. Sarah Lawrence (1) - 21 - points
5. Maritime - 15 points
6. Mount Saint Vincent - 13 points
7. Old Westbury - 11 points

2014-15 Men's Swimming Coaches Poll
1. Maritime (4) -  24 points
2. Mount Saint Mary (2) - 22 points
3. Purchase - 15 points 
4. Mount Saint Vincent - 12 points
5. Sarah Lawrence - 9 points
6. Old Westbury - 8 points

First-place votes in parentheses