NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The Massachusetts men and Richmond women’s swimming and diving teams have been selected as the favorites to win the 2016 Atlantic 10 Conference Swimming and Diving Championships, according to a poll conducted of the league’s head coaches. The league announced the poll Wednesday with several A-10 teams beginning their seasons this weekend.
The Minutemen are in search of back-to-back A-10 titles and 16th swimming and diving title overall after finishing with a total of 589 points at last year’s championship. UMass, who has won nine of the last twelve titles, is led by senior captains Alessandro Bomprezzi and Brian Stiles. Bomprezzi is coming off a 2015 season in which he was named the Atlantic 10 Most Outstanding Performer. Head coach Russ Yarworth and diving coach Mandy Hixon were awarded the 2015 A-10 Coach of the Year and Diving Coach of the Year, respectively.
St. Bonaventure, the A-10 runner-up in 2015 and the A-10 champions in 2013 and 2014, has been predicted to finish second this season. They are followed by George Mason, La Salle, Davidson, Saint Louis, George Washington and Fordham.
Richmond, winners of five consecutive A-10 titles and 13 of the last 14, have been predicted to bring home the 2016 A-10 women’s championship. This year’s team brings back junior Irina Chiulli, the 2015 Most Outstanding Diver, and sophomore Annie Lane, the 2015 Most Outstanding Rookie Performer. They also return senior Kelley Yang, the 2013 A-10 Most Outstanding Rookie Performer, and sophomore Erin Barry, who recently qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Massachusetts, runner-up at last year’s championship, was predicted to finish second in this year’s poll. Duquesne, Fordham and Davidson rounded out the top five, and were followed by George Mason, La Salle, Saint Louis, George Washington, Rhode Island and St. Bonaventure.
The 2016 A-10 Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships will be held February 17-20 at the SPIRE Institute located in Geneva, Ohio.
2016 Men’s Swimming and Diving Predicted Order of Finish
Number in parenthesis indicates first- place votes.
1. Massachusetts (7) – 62
2. St. Bonaventure (1) – 54
3. George Mason – 49
4. La Salle – 42
5. Davidson – 29
6. Saint Louis – 24
7. George Washington – 15
8. Fordham – 13
2016 Women’s Swimming and Diving Predicted Order of Finish
Number in parenthesis indicates first-place votes.
1. Richmond (9) – 118
2. Massachusetts – 102
3. Duquesne (1) – 97
4. Fordham (1) – 85
5. Davidson – 81
6. George Mason – 75
7. La Salle – 49
8. Saint Louis – 31
9. George Washington – 30
T-10. Rhode Island – 29
T-10. St. Bonaventure – 29
Swimming news courtesy of Atlantic 10 Conference.