Dec. 29, 2005

OXFORD, Ohio - After wrapping up the first half of the season with a 3-1 overall record and a 2-0 mark in conference, the Miami University men's swimming and diving team was rewarded with the No. 9 ranking in the latest Division I Mid-Major Poll released by collegeswimming.com.

Currently in the midst of a six-week break from competition, Miami has posted three road wins this season, including a pair of Mid-American Conference wins over Buffalo (Oct. 29) and Ball State (Nov. 12). The RedHawks also own one non-conference win over Cleveland State, and their only setback came against nationally-ranked Ohio State.

In addition to the team's success, two Miami athletes have been individually recognized for their performances this season as senior diver Zach Niehaus and junior swimmer Paul Ricard combined to win the first three MAC Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week Awards. Niehaus is the latest Miami athlete to take home the award as he was named the conference athlete of the week on Nov. 15, while Ricard was named the MAC Swimmer of the Week twice, winning the award on Nov. 1 and Nov. 8.

The U.S. Naval Academy earned the No. 1 ranking in the poll, while the RedHawks were one of two Mid-American Conference schools ranked in the top 25. The defending MAC Champion Eastern Michigan Eagles are ranked No. 6 in the poll, and a meeting with EMU awaits Miami on Jan. 27 at the Nixon Aquatic Center.

The Division I Mid-Major Poll was designed to promote schools that do not benefit from large football and basketball television agreements. Institutions from the following conferences are eligible to participate in the Mid-Major Poll: America East, Atlantic 10, Big West, Colonial Athletic Association, Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming League, Horizon League, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-America, Mid-Continent, Missouri Valley, North Eastern, Patriot, and Sun Belt conferences. The rankings are based on each team's best dual-meet lineup as judged and submitted by participating teams.

After the New Year, Miami resumes non-conference action on Jan. 14 when it travels to face Kenyon College and Cincinnati in Gambier, Ohio. The tri-meet begins when the three teams hit the pool at 1 p.m.