LANCASTER, PA – Johns Hopkins has been picked to finish second in the Centennial Conference in a preseason poll of the conference's head coaches. The Blue Jays earned three first-place votes and 5618 points to come in a close second.
 
Swarthmore was picked to finish first in the preseason poll with six first-place votes and 61 points. Gettysburg (51 points), Ursinus (39 points) and Franklin & Marshall (36 points) round out the top five. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team.
 
In its first year in the conference in 2025-26, Hopkins finished in second place at the conference championship, just 15.5 points behind Swarthmore. It was the closest finish at the conference championship since 2014. JHU went on to place 16^th at the NCAA Championship with 10 Blue Jays combining to earn 19 All-America honors. Nine of those 10 swimmers are back this season.
 
Hopkins will open the season on Saturday, October 24 at Gettysburg in a Centennial Conference quad. In addition to Gettysburg, JHU will compete against McDaniel, Washington College and Bryn Mawr. The meet is scheduled for a 12:00 pm start.
 
2026-27 Centennial Conference Preseason Poll
1. Swarthmore (6) – 61 points
2. Johns Hopkins (3) – 59 points
3. Gettysburg – 51 points
4. Ursinus – 39 points
5. Franklin & Marshall – 36 points
6. Dickinson – 33 points
7. Washington College – 22 points
8. Bryn Mawr – 14 points
9. McDaniel – 9 points