NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Bethany College men's and women's swimming and diving teams have been picked to finish eighth and ninth in the 2025-26 Presidents' Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, respectively.

After being picked seventh last season, the Bison's women's team sits at ninth with 11 points. The defending PAC Champion Grove City (Pa.) College received the most points with 64 and drew eight first-place votes. Saint Vincent (Pa.) College was picked second with 56 points while Westminster (Pa.) College received the final first-place vote and sits at third with 49 points. Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) College and Chatham (Pa.) University round out the top five with 41 points and 35 points, respectively. College received the last first-place vote and totaled 96 points just ahead of Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) College at fifth place with 93 points.

The men's team was also picked seventh last season and is slated to finish eighth this year by tallying 14 points. Grove City was the favorite once again with 56 points and seven first-place votes followed by Washington & Jefferson with 48 points. Saint Vincent received the eighth first-place vote and finished with 46 points. Westminster sits at fourth with 35 points followed by Hiram (Ohio) College with 30 points.  

Academic All-PAC sophomore JulieAnne Humpe (Yorkville, Ohio/Wheeling Central Catholic) was named to the PAC Swimmers to Watch list ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Fourth-year Head Coach Jeani Humpe welcomes back one letterwinner from last season. In 2024-25, the women's team finished eighth overall in the PAC Championships including finishing seventh in both the 200-yard and 400-yard medley relay and eighth in the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle relays. On the men's side, the Bison finished seventh overall at the 2024-25 PAC Championships and competed individually in six events.

2025-26 PAC Women's Swimming and Diving Preseason Poll
School - Points (First Place Votes)

        1. Grove City - 64 (8)
        2. Saint Vincent - 56
        3. Westminster - 49 (1)
        4. Washington & Jefferson - 41
        5. Chatham - 35
        6. Allegheny - 31
        7. Franciscan - 25
        8. Hiram - 12
        9. Bethany - 11

2025-26 PAC Men's Swimming and Diving Preseason Poll
School - Points (First Place Votes)

        1. Grove City - 56 (7)
        2. Washington & Jefferson - 48
        3. Saint Vincent - 46 (1)
        4. Westminster - 35
        5. Hiram - 30
        6. Chatham - 27
        7. Allegheny - 24
        8. Bethany - 14

The Bison opened the 2025-26 campaign on Saturday, October 4 as they traveled to Morgantown, West Virginia to compete in the West Virginia State Games and are back in action on Wednesday, October 15 as they travel to Washington, Pennsylvania to take on Washington & Jefferson (Pa.) College at 6 p.m. in Henry Memorial Natatorium.