Swimming & Diving Picked Second In NEC Preseason Poll
The Blue Devils were voted to finish second this season in the NEC by the league's coaches.
The Central Connecticut swimming and diving team was voted to finish second this season in the Northeast Conference in the annual preseason coaches poll, the league announced Friday. The Blue Devils finished third in the conference last year behind Wagner and Bryant.
CCSU ranked second in the poll behind defending NEC Champions Wagner. The Blue Devils earned two first-place votes, while the Seahawks earned five.
The Blue Devils are returning 17 members of last year's squad, including two time NEC Diving Champion Jessica Goldman. Goldman placed first in both the 3-meter and 1-meter events at the 2013 and 2014 NEC Championships as a freshman and sophomore. She was named NEC Diver of the Meet for her impressive performances in both years. Goldman also broke both the 1-meter and 3-meter CCSU freshman records in her inaugural season and the 1-meter team record last season.
In addition to her CCSU records, Goldman also broke the previous NEC 3-meter six-dive record of 248.40 with a score of 254.40 in 2013.
The Blue Devils also return senior Helene Neuhaus. After sitting out last season the 2013 All-NEC First Team awardee and 100 meter backstroke CCSU team record holder rejoins the squad for the 2014-15 season.
Neuhaus was selected to represent Estonia at the 2014 European Championships. She established a new Estonian National Record in the 100 meter backstroke this past summer at the Connecticut Senior Championships where she swam to a time of 1:03.34, just .56 of a second from qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympic in Rio.
Behind Wagner and Central Connecticut on the coaches poll were Bryant and Saint Francis U in third and fourth. Rounding out the teams were Mount St. Mary's in fifth followed by Sacred Heart and Saint Francis Brooklyn.
The Blue Devils kick off their season next Friday, Oct. 10 with the CCSU Annual Alumni Meet. The action will begin at 6:00 p.m.
