SUNY Mens Swim Team First in Poll

Cobleskill, N.Y.: The SUNY Cobleskill men’ swimming & diving team will open the 2017-18 season ranked first in the North Eastern Athletic Conference’s (NEAC) Pre-Season Coaches Poll. The Fighting Tigers will be looking to defend their 2016-17 conference title under the direction of new head coach Jamie Hotaling.

According to their new head coach the Fighting Tigers are in a strong position to contend for another NEAC title.

“I’m very excited about the season. While it’s true that we certainly lost a lot of talent through graduation last year; we have some extremely talented new recruits, who are going to be great replacements. We also have some excellent returners who have shown what they can do. We are definitely going to be a contender this year for the conference title.”  

This season the Fighting Tigers have a solid group of returners including seven returning lettermen led by two-time NEAC and NCAA Division III North Eastern Regional one-meter diving champion junior Sam Datri, Ravena, N.Y., Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School, along with senior Anthony McGorsik, East Hampton, N.Y., East Hampton High School, who was the conference champion in the: 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle.

Cobleskill will also return senior Joslen Pettit, Gloversville, N.Y., Gloversville High School, who was the conference’s champion in the 200-yard butterfly.

Among the new comers the Orange & Black will be counting on: freshman Mohamed Azhar Ahdul Cader, Shennai, India, Don Bosco Prep., who is an extremely talented in the breaststroke, freshman Daniel Mullen, Oswego, N.Y., Mexico High School, who will be a multi-event performer and freshman Sam Sherbacow, Minneola, Fla., Lake Minneola High School, who has shown exceptional promise in the freestyle sprints to make contributions this season.

The Fighting Tigers will open the 2017-18 season on Saturday October 28th when they host SUNY Delhi for a dual meet beginning at 1:00 p.m.  

2017-18 NEAC Men’s Swimming & Diving Pre-Season Rankings

Rank	Institution (First-Place Votes)	Total Points
1	SUNY Cobleskill (2)*	24
1	Gallaudet University (2)*	20
3	Cazenovia college	20
4	Wells College	12