By Corey J. Corbin

Allied News Sports Editor

PITTSBURGH — New teams could grace the top of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship.

In voting by the conference’s coaches, sports information directors and media covering the event, the Waynesburg men and Thomas More women were picked to win the 2006-07 PAC championships at the PAC Winter Media Day Wednesday at Mellon Arena.

The Yellow Jackets, who return four starters from last year’s team which finished 16-11 and second in the PAC, earned just eight of 28 first place votes, but still edged Washington & Jefferson (160 points, 12 first place votes) in a close ballot. Other teams in the poll included two-time defending PAC champion Bethany (145), Westminster (132), Grove City (83), Thiel (62) and Thomas More (47).

“It’s an honor that the coaches think so highly of us, but as last season showed polls are just that — preseason polls,” said fourth-year Waynesburg head coach Frank Ferraro. “We feel the PAC is competitive from top to bottom and any team could emerge as the eventual champion. Our success last year was a reflection of our players really buying into what we were teaching them, and being picked first in the PAC this year is a result of their hard work.”

On the women’s side, the Saints return four starters from a squad that finished 20-8 and in second place in the conference in 2005-06. Thomas More finished with 23 of 31 first place votes and 208 total points, followed by defending PAC champion Washington & Jefferson (151), Westminster (146), Waynesburg (109), Bethany (95), Thiel (89) and Grove City (70).

“It’s nice to receive the recognition for our program, and I just hope the voters are as accurate as last year (when preseason favorite Washington & Jefferson won the title). We have a pretty experienced returning core and those players are looking forward to the challenge ahead,” said third-year Thomas More women’s head coach Brian Neal.

Staying with the women, the Titan women, coached by fifth-year coach Rosanne Scott, welcome back all five starters and eight letterwinners from last year's team that posted an 8-19 overall record and a 4-8 mark in the PAC for sixth place.

Among those starters is second team All-PAC selection Desiree Sterling, who posted 12.9-point, 5.7-rebound and 1.88-steal averages as a junior.

“Coming off last year, our expectations are high,” Scott said. “We have five starters back, so I expect us to jump into the mix. The kids are working hard and expect a lot out of themselves.”

The Tomcat women return four starters and seven players overall from last year’s 7-19 team.

Among the returning starters are former Sharon High and Farrell High standouts seniors Nicole Valentino and Fontella Jones.

Valentino averaged 10.5 points and 4.7 last year, while Jones posted 11.2 points and seven boards in 25 starts.