PSAC Release

2013 Huskies Schedule   |   2013 Huskies Roster

BLOOMSBURG - The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference released its annual preseason cross country coaches polls Monday morning with the Bloomsburg men's team ranking 13th.
 
Defending conference champion Edinboro grabbed 15 first-place votes to easily take the top spot ahead of Lock Haven, which tallied the lone remaining first-place vote. Slippery Rock, Shippensburg and East Stroudsburg complete the top five while Indiana (PA), Kutztown, Seton Hill, California (PA) and West Chester represent the second half of the top 10. West Chester, Mansfield and Mercyhurst are slated immediately in front of Bloomsburg while Gannon and Pitt-Johnstown are 14th and 15th respectively and Cheyney rounds out the poll in 16th.
 
The Huskies are optimistic their nucleus of nine incoming freshmen helps to raise the program back up the ranks of the PSAC.
 
"It could very well be a different three or four freshmen every week that are breaking into the top seven," head coach Bernie Empie said.
 
Junior Kyle Phillips (Waynesboro/Waynesboro) emerged as the leader of the squad as the team's top finisher in both last year's PSAC and regional meets. Quichon Walker (Lancaster/J.P. McCaskey) is the team's lone senior while Zach Gilliom (Milton/Milton) returns as a sophomore. The freshmen include Shawn Brown (Philadelphia/Father Judge), Anthony DiLucido (Collingdale/Monsignor Bonner), Danny Dugan (Ramsey, NJ/Ramsey), Sean Hodgins (Schwenksville/Perkiomen Valley), Kyle Klosinski (Springfield/Springfield), Eric Murray (Philadelphia/Father Judge), Jake Plachko (St. Clair/Pottsville Area), Colin Wainwright and James Wilson (Warrington/Central Bucks South).
 
"We expect our team balance is going to be better than it has been in the past couple of years with the newcomers coming in," Empie stated.
 
That youth leaves Empie excited for the possibilities this fall.
 
"I'm really excited about the youth. It represents an opportunity to revitalize the strength of the distance program that has existed here for a number of years," he said. "Especially on the men's side we're looking to return the excellence that this program has grown accustomed to.
 
"Bloomsburg is an excellent school with a solid academic reputation and good facilities. We do not belong outside the top 10 and the young kids should help us achieve that expectation."
 
Bloomsburg opens its seasons when both teams compete at the Flat Land Invite in Mansfield on Sept. 7. Closer to home, the Market Street Mile will again be held to benefit the BU men's and women's running programs. That event is scheduled for Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m. More information on the Market Street Mile can be found by clicking here.

PSAC Men's Cross Country Poll
1. Edinboro (15)
2. Lock Haven (1)
3. Slippery Rock
4. Shippensburg
5. East Stroudsburg
6. IUP
7. Kutztown
8. Seton Hill
9. California
10. West Chester
11. Mansfield
12. Mercyhurst
13. Bloomsburg
14. Gannon
15. Pitt-Johnstown
16. Cheyney