Charlie Schmitt
Men's Cross Country Picked Fourth in SoCon Preseason Poll
8/27/2010 2:21:01 PM | Men's Cross Country
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Davidson men's cross country team was picked to finish fourth in the Southern Conference in preseason balloting conducted by the league's head coaches, the conference office announced Friday.
Defending champion Appalachian State was selected as the preseason favorite, receiving five first-place votes and 92 points overall. Finishing close behind the Mountaineers in the voting was UNCG, who came in second with four first-place votes and 89 total points. Receiving the final two first-place votes and coming in third in the balloting was Chattanooga with 78 total points. Davidson earned 75 points.
The Wildcats are coming off their best SoCon finish in program history after placing second at the championship meet in 2009. The Wildcats lose first-team All-SoCon selection Lance Harden to graduation, but senior Charlie Schmitt and junior Ryan Hopkins will look to place the 'Cats in contention for the SoCon title.
“The SoCon has several teams capable of winning the conference this fall and we intend to be in the mix,” said Davidson head coach Gary Andrew.
Hopkins earned a place on the All-Soc Second Team in 2009, while Schmitt is coming off a stellar track season. Sophomore Demetrios Pagonis will look to improve after an impressive freshman campaign that earned him SoCon All-Freshman honors.
The 2010 Southern Conference Championships will be held on Saturday, Oct. 30 in Boone, N.C. Davidson will open the season there on Friday, Sept. 3 when Appalachian State hosts the Covered Bridge Open.
Note: Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team in the preseason ballot.
2010 SoCon Men's Cross Country Preseason Polls
Team (#1 votes), Points
1. Appalachian State (5), 92
2. UNCG (4), 89
3. Chattanooga (2), 78
4. Davidson, 75
5. Elon, 65
6. Furman, 64
7. Western Carolina, 43
8. College of Charleston, 36
9. Samford, 30
10. The Citadel, 20
11. Wofford, 13
Defending champion Appalachian State was selected as the preseason favorite, receiving five first-place votes and 92 points overall. Finishing close behind the Mountaineers in the voting was UNCG, who came in second with four first-place votes and 89 total points. Receiving the final two first-place votes and coming in third in the balloting was Chattanooga with 78 total points. Davidson earned 75 points.
The Wildcats are coming off their best SoCon finish in program history after placing second at the championship meet in 2009. The Wildcats lose first-team All-SoCon selection Lance Harden to graduation, but senior Charlie Schmitt and junior Ryan Hopkins will look to place the 'Cats in contention for the SoCon title.
“The SoCon has several teams capable of winning the conference this fall and we intend to be in the mix,” said Davidson head coach Gary Andrew.
Hopkins earned a place on the All-Soc Second Team in 2009, while Schmitt is coming off a stellar track season. Sophomore Demetrios Pagonis will look to improve after an impressive freshman campaign that earned him SoCon All-Freshman honors.
The 2010 Southern Conference Championships will be held on Saturday, Oct. 30 in Boone, N.C. Davidson will open the season there on Friday, Sept. 3 when Appalachian State hosts the Covered Bridge Open.
Note: Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team in the preseason ballot.
2010 SoCon Men's Cross Country Preseason Polls
Team (#1 votes), Points
1. Appalachian State (5), 92
2. UNCG (4), 89
3. Chattanooga (2), 78
4. Davidson, 75
5. Elon, 65
6. Furman, 64
7. Western Carolina, 43
8. College of Charleston, 36
9. Samford, 30
10. The Citadel, 20
11. Wofford, 13