Preseason Coaches Poll | Record Book
Dickinson (2nd place Centennial, 2nd place Mideast Region, 10th place NCAA)
Head Coach: Don Nichter (Ithaca '79), 22nd season
Team Page | Roster | Schedule
Key Returnees: Andrew Fine, Sr, 2nd team All-CC, All-Region; Ryan Steinbock, Jr, 2nd team All-CC, All-Region; Henry Mynatt, Jr, All-Region.
Key Losses: Dylan Straughan, 1st team All-CC, All-Region, All-American; Ted Macdonald, 2nd team All-CC, All-Region; Sean Galiczynski; David Breen.
Preseason Poll Projection: 2nd
Outlook: The Red Devils are one of the best teams in the region but have the misfortune of having Haverford in its way in the Conference. Dickinson seems to reload rather than rebuild, finishing in the top three in the Centennial every year since 1998, and returns three All-Region runners. Fine and Steinbock have the ability to contend for the CC individual crown and Mynatt has All-Conference talent.
Franklin & Marshall (5th place Centennial, 15th place Mideast Region)
Head Coach: John Stoudt (Kutztown), 5th season
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Key Returnees: Greg Duckloe, Sr, All-Region; Bryan Andrews, Soph; Angelo Arce, Soph; Tim Merlino, Sr; Steve Jordan, Soph; Josh Weslao, Sr; Luk Olenginski, Soph.
Key Losses: none.
Preseason Poll Projection: 6th
Outlook: The Diplomats have not finished in the top half of the Conference meet since 1998 and hopes to change that behind the return of Duckloe. Merlino provides experience and three sophs - Andrews, Arce and Jordan - will need to step up to make the trend this fall.
Gettysburg (7th place Centennial, 21st place Mideast Region)
Head Coach: Aubrey Shenk (Juniata), 3rd season
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Key Returnees: Tyler Keith, Sr; Ryan Rausch, Soph; Ethan Miller, Soph; Patrick Hill, Jr; Cole Rossiter, Jr.
Key Losses: Brendan Repack; Jim Myers.
Preseason Poll Projection: 7th
Outlook: The Bullets struggled to their worst Centennial finish ever last season in the snow, but hopes to rebound in 2012. Keith is the top returning senior, while Hill and Rossiter provide experience. Rausch and Miller hope to improve upon their freshman year and lead Gettysburg back to the top half of the Centennial.
Haverford (1st place Centennial, 1st place Mideast Region, 2nd place NCAA)
Head Coach: Fran Rizzo (West Chester), 23rd season
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Key Returnees: Jordan Schilit, Sr, 2011 Centennial Runner of the Year, 1st team All-CC, All-Region, All-American; Peter Kissin, Sr, 1st team All-CC, All-Region; Brian Sokas, Jr, 1st team All-CC, All-Region, All-American; Ivo Milic-Strkalj, Sr, All-Region; Chris Stadler, Jr, 2nd team All-CC; Jeff Duncan, Soph, 2nd team All-CC.
Key Losses: Eric Arnold, 1st team All-CC, All-Region, All-American; Andrew Sturner, All-Region, All-American; Tim Schoch, 1st team All-CC, All-Region.
Preseason Poll Projection: 1st
Outlook: The Fords won their 17th Centennial title and seventh regional crown in the last nine seasons a year ago. But tradition does not graduate at Haverford and despite the loss of two All-Americans, the Goats are primed for another run at Conference, regional and national titles. Schilit has a chance to become the fourth runner to win two Centennial individual titles. Kissin and Sokas are returning first-team All-CC runners, while Milic-Strkalj joins the duo as All-Region performers.
Johns Hopkins (4th place Centennial, 4th place Mideast Region, 26th place NCAA)
Head Coach: Bobby Van Allen (Maryland '98), 14th season
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Key Returnees: Max Robinson, Jr, All-Region; Austin Stecklair, Jr, All-Region; Julian Saliani, Jr; Ricky Mulroy, Jr; Josh Budman, Sr.
Key Losses: Brandon Hahn, All-Region; Brett Schwartz.
Preseason Poll Projection: 3rd
Outlook: The Blue Jays have joined the elite teams in the Conference and gave the Centennial three NCAA representatives for the first time ever last fall. Robinson and Stecklair are returning All-Region runners, while Saliani, Mulroy and Budman are candidates for All-Conference honors. Hopkins has been an up-and-coming program and will pose a challenge to the perennial powers.
McDaniel (9th place Centennial, 37th place Mideast Region)
Head Coach: Doug Renner (McDaniel '80), 28th season
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Key Returnees: Peter Merkel, Soph; Matt Peterson, Soph; Graham Miles, Sr; Eric Spioch, Sr; Jacob Stein, Jr.
Key Losses: Ron Shriver.
Preseason Poll Projection: 9th
Outlook: The Green Terror hopes to jump into the top half of the Conference for the first time since 1993 behind a mix of veterans and youngsters. Miles, Spioch and Stein are the experienced runners, while Merkel and Peterson had strong rookie seasons. McDaniel's performance this season may depend on their development.
Muhlenberg (6th place Centennial, 18th place Mideast Region)
Head Coach: David Bracetty (East Stroudsburg '08), 4th season
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Key Returnees: Charlie Kline, Jr; Robert McGetrick, Jr; Jarrett Felix, Jr; Mike Esposito, Sr.
Key Losses: Will Lowery.
Preseason Poll Projection: 5th
Outlook: The Mules look to return to the Conference's top half with four of last season's top seven runners back in the fold. Esposito looks for a big senior season, while Kline, McGetrick and Felix hope to improve on their 2011 performances. The nucelus is there for 'Berg to get back to the CC top five.
Swarthmore (3rd place Centennial, 7th place Mideast Region)
Head Coach: Peter Carroll (Villanova '82), 12th season
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Key Returnees: Jacob Phillips, Sr, 2nd team All-CC, All-Region; Aidan Dumont-McCaffrey, Sr; Robert Fain, Jr; Jonas Oppenheimer, Soph; John McMinn, Sr; Stuart Russell, Jr.
Key Losses: Chris Wickham.
Preseason Poll Projection: 4th
Outlook: The Garnet registered its best Conference finish since 2005 a year ago and welcomes back six of its top seven runners. Phillips had an outstanding season and has the ability for a repeat performance. Dumont-McCaffrey and McMinn look for big final seasons, while Fain, Russell and Opperheimer look for continued improvement. Swarthmore has the talent to remain among the Conference's top three but may not have the depth to challenge for the title.
Ursinus (8th place Centennial, 24th place Mideast Region)
Head Coach: Chris Bayless (Morgan State '90), 9th season
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Key Returnees: Sam Stortz, Sr; Jatin Narang, Jr; Mark Gapinski, Sr; Amos Almy, Sr.
Key Losses: Adam DiCaprio; Bogdan Lisachenko; Nick Pane.
Preseason Poll Projection: 8th
Outlook: The Bears welcome back four runners in their quest to break into the Centennial top five for the first time in program history. Stortz, Gapinski and Almy lead the squad along with Narang. Ursinus will need immediate contributions from newcomers to make a leap in the standings.