LANCASTER, Pa. – The Ursinus College women's swimming team was picked to capture its sixth consecutive Centennial Conference championship in a preseason poll of the league's coaches.
The Bears grabbed the top spot with five first-place votes and a total of 47 points. Gettysburg was second with two first-place votes and 44 points, and Swarthmore took third with the final first-place vote and 38 points. Franklin & Marshall (29) was fourth, followed by Washington College (24), Dickinson (22), McDaniel (13), and Bryn Mawr (7).
Despite losing the 2018 CC Most Outstanding Performer in Sydney Gundersen '18, head coach Mark Feinberg's squad is loaded for bear once more and ready to make a run at adding to its current CC five-peat.
Ursinus, ranked No. 17 in the CSCAA preseason Division III rankings, returns three All-Americans from last year's group, led by senior Clara Baker. A two-time CSCAA Scholar All-American, Baker is the most accomplished swimmer in program history with seven All-America laurels. Baker earned five gold medals at the Centennial Conference championship before securing All-America honors in the 100 butterfly, 200 medley relay, and 400 medley relay at the NCAA Championships.
Sophomore Sophie May made her mark as one of the top first-years in the nation a year ago with a scintillating performance at the conference meet, racking up five golds and a pair of silvers en route to being named Most Outstanding Rookie Performer. The freshman phenom won the 50 free and competed as part of the 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay, and 200 medley relay. She also took second place in the 200 free and 200 back. May scored All-America recognition in the 200 medley relay, 400 free relay, and 800 free relay at the NCAA Championships.
Senior Peyten Lyons, the Most Outstanding Performer and Most Outstanding Rookie Performer in 2016, won gold in both individual backstroke events at last year's conference championship meet. She broke her own conference standard with a 2:02.68 in the 200 back prelims, then posted a B cut in that event's finals (2:03.07) as well as the 100 back (56.57). Lyons also took part in the 200 free relay, 800 free relay, 200 medley relay, and 400 medley relay, and placed second in the 200 IM.
Senior Caroline Powell received All-CC honorable mention for her runner-up performance in the 400 IM, also finishing fourth in the 200 IM. Junior Haley Sturla (fifth in the 100 breast, sixth in the 200 breast), sophomore Rebecca Warren (fourth in 1650 free), senior Kathryn Longenecker (sixth in 500 free and 1650 free), and senior Katherine Madden (sixth in 400 IM, seventh in 200 back, ninth in 200 IM) were all key contributors a year ago.
The Bears kick off their season next Friday, October 26, with a non-conference dual at Cabrini.