ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum College men's and women's cross country teams are picked to finish eighth and tenth, respectively in the South Atlantic Conference according to the 2013 SAC Coaches' Poll, released by the league office on Thursday.
The 2013 Preseason All-SAC Teams were announced as Tusculum junior David Cooper was selected to the first team.
The Tusculum men received 47 points in a poll of the league's 12 cross country coaches, including SAC newcomers Coker College and Queens University of Charlotte. The TC women picked up 24 points in this year's preseason rankings.
Cooper had a banner sophomore campaign in 2012. The Greeneville, Tenn. product finished fourth at last year's SAC Championship, which was hosted by Tusculum. He earned a spot on the All-SAC first team as he finished in the top-20 in all eight races last year, including a pair of individual titles. He followed his SAC Championship performance by finishing 19th at the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional, securing him All-Region recognition.
Cooper also shined in the classroom as he earned a spot on the Capital One Academic All-America® second team. The Chuckey-Doak High School alum has a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade point average while majoring in biology.
Mars Hill University is the favorite to claim its 17th men's conference title as the Lions received 121 points, including 11 first place votes. Wingate University is second with 111 points and one first place vote. Lenoir-Rhyne University is third with 97 points, followed by Lincoln Memorial University (80), Brevard College (78), Queens (76), Anderson University (74), Tusculum, Newberry College (34), Catawba College (30), Coker (27) and Carson-Newman University (17).
On the women's side, Lenoir-Rhyne, winners of three of the last five SAC championships, are the favorite with 116 points, including nine first place votes. Wingate is second with 112 points with a pair of first place nods. Anderson is third with 93 points, followed by Mars Hill (91) and Queens (82 - one 1st place vote) to round out the top five. Lincoln Memorial is sixth with 70 points, followed by Brevard (69), Carson-Newman (56), Catawba (36), Tusculum, Coker (22) and Newberry (21).
The 2013 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Championship will be held Oct. 26 in Black Mountain, N.C.
The Tusculum teams, under the direction of first-year head coach Cory Pratt, will open its season on Sep. 14 at the Hyder-McMahill Invitational in Montreat, N.C.
- SAC -
2013 SAC Men's Cross Country Coaches' Poll
Rk Team (1st Place Votes) Pts
1 Mars Hill (11) 121
2 Wingate (1) 111
3 Lenoir-Rhyne 97
4 Lincoln Memorial 80
5 Brevard 78
6 Queens 76
7 Anderson 74
8 TUSCULUM 47
9 Newberry 34
10 Catawba 30
11 Coker 27
12 Carson-Newman 17
2013 SAC Women's Cross Country Coaches' Poll
Rk Team (1st Place Votes) Pts
1 Lenoir-Rhyne (9) 116
2 Wingate (2) 112
3 Anderson 93
4 Mars Hill 91
5 Queens (1) 82
6 Lincoln Memorial 70
7 Brevard 69
8 Carson-Newman 56
9 Catawba 36
10 TUSCULUM 24
11 Coker 22
12 Newberry 21
2013 Preseason All-SAC Men's Cross Country
Team
First Team
Steve Hammond, Wingate
Alex Griggs, Mars Hill
Cesar Reyes, Mars Hill
David Cooper, Tusculum
Bradley Maldonado, Lincoln Memorial
Brady Adcock, Mars Hill
Aaron Nelson, Lenoir-Rhyne
Second Team
Parks Edwards, Anderson
Carter Benge, Mars Hill
Patrick Helmick, Brevard
Kiel Bollero, Mars Hill
Binyam Belachew, Wingate
Ryan Mecca, Lincoln Memorial
Nathan Collier, Newberry
2013 Preseason All-SAC Women's Cross Country
Team
First Team
Keeley Wood, Wingate
Kristen Trammel, Mars Hill
Hannah Cook, Brevard
Marie Mauhar, Lenoir-Rhyne
Angela Canale, Brevard
Sydney Hazel, Anderson
Laura Rhyne, Lenoir-Rhyne
Second Team
Sam Haering, Wingate
Jessica Viscusi, Mars Hill
Ashley Kale, Lenoir-Rhyne
Tia Belter, Lincoln Memorial
Tiana Barnes, Wingate
Savannah Hulbert, Mars Hill
Heidi Hooker, Mars Hill
