GREENVILLE, S.C. – The conference office officially unveiled the preseason poll earlier today and the Valkyries were picked to finish eighth. The preseason poll was voted on by the league's head coaches.

UNC Penbrook was picked to finish atop the poll by a wide margin with 167 points and 11-of-14 first-place votes. Southern Wesleyan, the third-place finisher in 2022, was picked second with 138 points while Lees-McRae was chosen third with 132 points. Emmanuel, last season's runner-up, was picked fourth with 127 points and the remaining three first-place votes.

Belmont Abbey was picked fifth with 121 points followed by North Greenville (116), Erskine (90), Converse (87), Mount Olive (68), Barton (63), conference newcomer Young Harris (52), King (46), Francis Marion (38) and Chowan (29).

Teams begin competition on Friday, Sept. 1 and will have 50 days before the 2023 Conference Carolinas Championship on Saturday, Oct. 21 at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"I am very excited for this upcoming season. The team put in a great summer of training and are looking to have a big year. This is year three for the men and they want to make a statement. I can not wait to see how things play out." said head Coach Mark Rennix.

Converse's trio to watch is headlined by Alexander Andrade-Sosa a Graduate student from Emmanual College who was the 2022 Third Team All-Conference Carolinas; Fall 2021 Third Team All-Conference Carolinas; and Spring 2021 Third Team All-Conference Carolinas.

Junior DreQuan Guyton was also named a key player to watch. He is ranked 6th all-time in Converse history in the 8k race.

The third player to watch is Junior Luis Rios Brena. He was the 2022 Second Team All-Conference Carolinas. 

The Conference team kicks off their season with the eye-opener against the University of South Carolina- Upstate on September 1st.