University of Massachusets Athletics
Men's Swimming and Diving Picked To Win Title
October 12, 2010 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 12, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass men's swimming and diving team has been picked to win its fifth consecutive Atlantic 10 title as the preseason coaches poll was released today. Head coach Russ Yarworth will look to capture the programs 13th A-10 title, and its 10th in the past 11 years.
Last year the Minutemen won their 12th title with a total of 814.5 points, 283 points ahead of second-place finisher St. Bonaventure. It is the Bonnies fifth second place finish in a row after winning the A-10 championship in 2006. They are picked to finish second again in 2011.
The 2010-11 Minutemen will have a mix of talented newcomers and proven veterans. They will be led by tri-captains Dan Backler, Adam Duffield and Brian Schmidt.
Backler is ranked third all-time at UMass in the 200-meter breaststroke and fifth all-time in the 100-meter breaststroke. He finished third last year in the Atlantic 10 Championships in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:05.60).
Duffield, a senior diver, is ranked ninth all-time in the three-meter dive. He finished second in the A-10 Championships with a combined score of 571.70. Along with Duffield representing the divers is junior Jason Cook. Cook is a two-time winner of the Most Outstanding Diver award.
Schmidt, another breaststroke swimmer tied Backler in the 100-meter breaststroke in the A-10 Championship. He also swam the breast leg of the 200-meter medley relay team. He helped the group win the second straight gold medal at the A-10 Championship.
The Minutemen open up their season this Saturday Oct. 16 at Boston University. The first home meet of the year is Oct. 23 against Army at Joseph Rogers Pool.
The 2011 Atlantic 10 Championships will be held February 23-26 at Erie Community College in Buffalo, N.Y.
2010-11 A-10 Men's Swimming & Diving Pre-Season Coaches Poll
1. Massachusetts
2. St. Bonaventure
3. La Salle
4. Fordham
4. Xavier
6. George Washington
7. Saint Louis