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Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Picked Fifth in America East Preseason Poll
Oct. 9, 2008
Orono, Maine - The University of Maine men's and women's swimming and diving programs were each selected to finish fifth in the 2008-09 America East head coaches preseason poll, which was released Thursday by the conference. The UMBC Retrievers were chosen to finish first in both the men's and women's poll for the 2008-09 season. The UMBC men were a unanimous selection to win their sixth consecutive conference title, receiving four first place votes and 16 points. The women are believed to have a tougher path ahead of them as they try to three-peat, receiving 35 points and four first place votes, only three points more than second place Boston University. The Maine women's team received 15 points in the poll and head into the season led by senior captain Colleen Miller, winner of the team's Most Valuable Swimmer award last season. Miller's prolific career at Maine has seen her break five school records, including her own in the 1650 freestyle during last season's America East Championships. The Black Bear men's team received four points as they look to improve on their upstart 2007-08 campaign. This season the team will welcome 12 freshman to help build upon the groundwork for success their veterans laid out last year. Jeremy Bender enters his sophomore year looking to repeat his breakout performance from last season. Bender finished seventh in the 1650 freestyle and eighth in the 400 IM at the 2007-08 America East Championships. The Maine women's first meet is on Saturday, October 25, when they face off against Northeastern and Central Connecticut State in the Stanley M. Wallace pool at 1 pm in Orono. On Sunday, November 2, the women's team will join the men for their first meet when they travel to Rhode Island to take on the Rams and Bryant University at 11 am.
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