CHARLOTTE, N.C.- After a program best 5th place finish at the 2021 NJCAA National Tournament, the Florida SouthWestern State Buccaneers will open the 2022 season ranked #4 in the NJCAA National Rankings as announced by the National Office Monday afternoon.
FSW was 25-5 a season ago, going a perfect 16-0 in Suncoast Conference play to win their second straight Conference Championship. They climbed to the #1 spot in the NJCAA National Rankings for the first time in program history midseason and held that spot for the final seven weeks of the regular season before finishing 5th at the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.
The Bucs return a wealth of experience from their 2021 squad including 1st Team All-Conference performers Barbara Koehler and Arianna Rossi. Their 2022 roster will be made up of their five returners, three NCAA Division I transfers, and eight true freshmen.
The preseason poll closely resembles the finishes at the NJCAA National Tournament from a season ago as two time defending National Champions Iowa Western take the pole with 2021 runners-up New Mexico Military #2 and the final podium team from last season, Missouri State-West Plains at #3 in front of the Bucs. Butler checks in behind FSW to round out the top five while Sunshine State rival Miami Dade is #6 in the preseason rankings. Along with FSW at #4 and Miami Dade at #6, the FCSAA is also represented by Polk State at #15 and Hillsborough at #16 with Daytona State receiving votes just outside the Top 20.
FSW will get a look at a number of top ranked teams right off the bat to kick off the 2022 season as 8 of the 10 teams participating in their Battle at the Beach Tournament at Suncoast Arena on August 26th & 27th are ranked in the Top 20 including #1 Iowa Western, #9 Central Wyoming, and #14 Utah State-Eastern who are all on the Bucs opening weekend schedule. Overall 10 of FSW's 22 matches in 2022 will be against teams ranked in the NJCAA Preseason Poll.
Fans will get a pair of chances to catch sneak peaks of the 2022 Bucs this week at home in Fort Myers as FSW hosts Ave Maria Tuesday at 6:00 PM and Eckerd Saturday at 6:00 PM in exhibition action in Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Both matches are free to the public with Saturday's festivities including the Bucs 2021 Championship Banner reveal pregame as well as giveaways for an Apple Watch and PS5 during the contest.
The Bucs will open their regular season on August 26th in the aforementioned Battle at the Beach Tournament when they take on Trinity Valley at 12:30.