The U.S. Naval Academy men were chosen to win its first Patriot League Championship since 2002 in a vote by Patriot League head coaches and sports information directors in the women's preseason swimming and diving poll. The Navy women were also picked to win their fourth straight Patriot League title.

The Mids received seven first-place votes and 87 points overall. With eight titles to its name, the Navy men have won the most Patriot League Championships among the League teams. First-Team All-Patriot League honorees Aubra Thomas (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Jennie Spencer (Smithburg, W. Va.) and Kelly Zahalka (Richmond, Va.) return for the Mids along with Second-Team All-Patriot League selection Katie Griffin (Ellicott City, Md.). Zahalka set a Patriot League Championship Meet record in the 400-yard IM last season, while Thomas is the record holder in the 200-yard IM and the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke.

Coming in with six first-place votes was Colgate with 84 total points. The Raiders finished second to Bucknell last season. Patriot League Rookie of the Meet Emily Murphy (Syracuse, N.Y.) returns with her 200-yard and 400-yard free relay teams [(Ashley Bottger (Weston, Conn.), Chrissy Zaika (Syracuse, N.Y.), Beverly Walker (Marietta, Ga.), and Lisa Marchi (Scottsdale, Ariz.)] that set Patriot League Championship Meet records last season. The 400-yard relay team set a Patriot League overall record as well.

Reigning Patriot League Champion Bucknell received three first-place votes and a total of 83 points. First-year Head Coach Dan Schinnerman enters Bucknell women's swimming at its Patriot League height as the Bison have won four consecutive Patriot League Championships. Katherine Munson (New Fairfield, Conn.), who won the 200-yard fly at the Patriot League Championship meet last season, joins First-Team All-Patriot Leaguers Rebecca Scheffter (Mt. Airy, Md.), Nikki Woodward (Longmeadow, Mass.), Carlyn Donley (Pittsburgh, Pa.), and Laura Goeller (Wilmington, Del.) for another season with the Bison.

On the women's side, Army tallied 54 votes in this year's poll. First-Team All-Patriot League selection Erin Hanley (Hamburg, N.Y.) returns with Chelsey and Cora Freeman (Puyallup, Wash.), who were Second-Team All-Patriot League. The Black Knights are looking for their first Patriot League Championship since 1991.

Lafayette (46), Lehigh (42), American (38) and Holy Cross (14) completed the poll.

Navy tallied 98 points with 14 first-place votes. Three-time Patriot League Diver of the Meet Kevin Teague (Lexington, Ky.) returns with First-Team All-Patriot League selection Danny Flemming (Loganville, Ga.), David Guthmann (Waxhaw, N.C.) and Tyler Hill (Houston, Texas). Teague set a Patriot League meet 3-meter diving record in 2005. Guthmann was selected as the Patriot League Rookie of the Meet last season.

Army grabbed two first-place votes and a total of 81 points. For the past two seasons the Black Knights have finished second to Navy at the Patriot League Championship. Returning student-athletes include First-Team All-Patriot League honorees Jake Mentele (Sioux Falls, S.D.) and Efri Ruthenberg (Peoria, Ariz.), along with Zach Disbrow (Orinda, Calif.), David Michelson (Winter Park, Fla.), Mike Soderberg (St. Paul, Minn.) and Nick Vandam (Eagan, Minn.), who were named Second-Team All-Patriot League last season.

The 2003 Patriot League Champion, Bucknell, came in third with 75 total points. Second-Team All-Patriot Leaguer Mark Kawczenski (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) returns to the team that finished 28.5 points behind Army for third at the Patriot League Championship in 2006. The Bison have three new coaches including Head Coach Dan Schinnerer, who joins Bucknell after being an assistant coach at Michigan for the past three years. Lehigh received 59 votes. The Mountain Hawks return First-Team All-Patriot League selection Tom Gilbert (Robesonia, Pa.) and Second-Team All-Patriot League mention Jon Kearney (Wayne, Pa.). Gilbert qualified for two finals at the 2006 Patriot League Championship, finishing second in the 200-yd backstroke.

American (48), Colgate (39), Lafayette (34) and Holy Cross (14) finished the poll. All teams at the end of the season will compete in the Patriot League Championship on February 15-17 at Bucknell University. The 2006-07 season opens Friday, Oct. 13 with Navy women competing at the Potomac Relay Invitational.

2006 Patriot League Pre-Season Poll
Men                   Women
1. Navy       98      1. Navy       87
2. Army       81      2. Colgate    84
3. Bucknell   75      3. Bucknell   83
4. Lehigh     59      4. Army       54
5. American   48      5. Lafayette  46
6. Colgate    39      6. Lehigh     42
7. Lafayette  34      7. American   38
8. Holy Cross 14      8. Holy Cross 14