Colgate Men Selected Fourth in Patriot League Preseason Poll
Costas Hadjipateras broke Colgate's 200 fly record as a freshman.
10/8/2009 10:08:11 PM
CENTER VALLEY, PA (10/8/09) – Following a fifth place effort in last year's Patriot League Championships, the Colgate men moved up one spot in the eyes of league coaches and sports information contacts, as the Patriot League released its preseason poll.
The Raiders collected 57 points in the balloting and edged Lehigh for fourth in the final outcome. Navy grabbed 14 of 16 first place votes en route to outdistancing the competition with 98 points, while Army and Bucknell checked into a tie for second with 79. Army received the final two first-place votes.
“A fourth place finish would be a great year for the men,” said Jungbluth. “They are doing as well as they ever have; our relays are as strong as ever, and we have a couple hard-working divers. The attitude is definitely present, and we have some added punch from the freshmen class. If our guys stay healthy, and just as importantly, stay focused, I think we can pull that off. “
The Raiders return both of their all-league performers in Tucker Gniewek (New Canaan, Conn.) and Devon Healy (New Canaan, Conn.). The junior established new Colgate school records in the 50 free (20.35), 100 free (46.20), and 100 back (41.15) en route to top five finishes in all three events. Gniewek was also a member of the Raiders’ 400 free relay that placed second overall, which was the best showing by Colgate in that event in many years.
Healy was a second team all-league performer after posting two top 10 efforts in the 400 IM (3:57.80) and 1650 free. His time in the IM broke a school record. Healy also is the school record holder in the 200 IM (1:53.14) as well.
The Raiders also have back two other school record holders in sophomores Costas Hadjipateras (New Canaan, Conn.) and Pat White (Stamford, Conn.). As freshmen in 2008-09, Hadjipateras established the school mark in the 200 fly (1:51.24), while White erased the mark in the 200 free (1:40.56).
The Raiders battled with Lehigh for fourth the entire event, but lost out in the end by a mere 4.5 points to the Mountain Hawks. Colgate posted 353 points to Lehigh’s 357.5.
The men’s opener is October 31 as they travel to take on Lehigh.