Coaches' Poll - No. 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Oklahoma Baptist tallied three first-place votes and 22 points to top the first 2011-12 NAIA Men’s Swimming & Diving Coaches’ Poll, the national office announced Tuesday. The Bison, who are competing in their first-ever swimming & diving season, are coached by Sam Freas. Oklahoma Baptist has finished in first place in all four of its meets and won its only dual meet over NCAA Division II William Jewell (Mo.), 75-38, on Nov. 18.

The Bison also boast NAIA individual top times in several categories. Freshmen Mateo Maciuniak (50-yard freestyle), Javier Sossa (100-yard freestyle) and Daniel Ramirez (100-meter butterfly) and junior Max Abreu (200-meter butterfly) all hold individual bests in their respective events this season. Dennis Noyles is tops among 1-meter, 6-dive participants.

SCAD Savannah (Ga.) comes in at No. 2 with 21 points and one first-place nod. The Bees return two All-Americans in sophomore Alex Gaudins and senior Michael Lawrence. Two-time defending champion Fresno Pacific (Calif.) follows at No. 3 with 16 points and one first-place vote. No. 4 Cumberlands (Ky.) and No. 5 Concordia (Calif.) round out the rankings with 11 and nine points, respectively.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches from the NAIA Swimming & Diving Coaches Association. The second poll will be released on Jan. 31.

RANK	LAST WEEK*	SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES)	TOTAL POINTS
1	NR	Oklahoma Baptist (3)	22
2	4	SCAD Savannah (Ga.) (1)	21
3	1	Fresno Pacific (Calif.) (1)	16
4	NR	Cumberlands (Ky.)	11
5	RV	Concordia (Calif.)	9

Others receiving votes: Union (Ky.) 1.

*Ranking is from last season's final poll