Coaches, SIDs See Third-Place Finish for Gophers

Coaches, SIDs See Third-Place Finish for Gophers

Goucher Trails Only Scranton, Catholic in Preseason Poll

October 23, 2008

MADISON, N.J. – Goucher is picked to finish in third place behind Scranton and Catholic at the 2009 Landmark Conference Women's Swimming & Diving Championships in a preseason poll conducted by the conference, the results of which were released today.

The head women's swimming coaches and sports information directors at each institution that sponsors the sport were authorized to participate in the poll.

Scranton, which claimed the inaugural Landmark title last season, holds the top spot in the poll by a sizeable margin. The Royals, who return Erin O'Connor, 2008 Landmark Conference Women's Swimmer of the Year, claimed each first-place vote and collected a total of 60 points.

Catholic beat out Goucher for second place in the poll by a single point, 41-40.

Among the swimmers who return for Goucher in 2008-09 are Britt Hogstrom (Killington, Vt./Woodstock Union) and Bethany Natoli (Alexandria, Va./O'Connell). Hogstrom is the reigning Landmark champion in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles; Natoli captured first place in both backstroke events at last season's conference meet.

The rest of the poll, along with the number of points for each school: 4. Susquehanna, 36; 5. Drew, 27; 6. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 16, and 7. Juniata, 11.

Goucher's men's team was picked to finish in a tie with Drew for fifth place in a separate poll conducted by the Landmark Conference.