CARMEL, Ind. -- The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology men's indoor track & field team was picked to finish first in the HCAC Preseason Poll conducted by the league head coaches. The team earned 80 points in the poll results and eight first-place votes. 

Manchester was selected to finish second, closely behind the Fightin' Engineers with 74 points and two first-place votes. Hanover rounded out the top three teams with 63 points in the conference voting. 

Finishing out the top five teams were Franklin with 50 points and Mount St. Joseph with 47 points. 

Rose-Hulman has won the indoor track & field title for the past three seasons and has accumulated a total of 14 HCAC indoor titles over the last 15 years. Last year, they were named the co-champions with Manchester University. 

The team returns two event champions from last year, including Kolton Nanko in the pole vault and James Kaunas in the triple jump.

The team also returns star thrower Antoine Cooper, who finished third in the weight throw in last year's championship. Cooper went on to qualify for nationals in the outdoor season in the discus.

The Fightin' Engineers coaching staff, led by Head Coach Shane Mills, was named HCAC Coaching Staff of the Year on the men's side in last year's HCAC Indoor Championship. 

The team will open the season at home in the Fightin' Engineers Invitational on Saturday, December 6, at 11 AM. 

HCAC PRESEASON POLL RESULTS:
1) Rose-Hulman - 80 (8)
2) Manchester - 74 (2)
3) Hanover - 63
4) Franklin - 50
5) Mount St. Joseph - 47
6) Berea - 34
7) Anderson - 27
8) Bluffton - 26
9) Transylvania - 25
10) Earlham - 24