PHILADELPHIA – Following a fall of intense training and preparation, the La Salle men's swimming and diving team will begin its season on Saturday, October 19 at Drexel. The Explorer men return a solid nucleus of upperclassmen and welcome a handful of promising freshman talent to this year's squad.

Sophomore Johan Roth took home the gold medal at the Atlantic 10 Championships as a rookie in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:00.70), good for a school record. He was the only Explorer to earn a first place finish at the event.

Senior Cameron Cabrera placed seventh in the 200-yard freestyle (1:39.72) at the championships, becoming the first Explorer to break the 1:40 barrier in five years. Classmate Dave Derr is likewise a talented freestyler, recording personal bests at A-10s in the 50-yard freestyle (21.32) and 100-yard freestyle (46.32). He also picked up a sixth place finish in the 50-yard backstroke (49.89).

Senior Sean McCall is La Salle's top distance returner, coming off a sixth overall finish in the 500-yard freestyle at A-10s with a 4:31.38. He also registered top-20 finishes in the 200-yard freestyle and 200-yard butterfly.

Sophomore CJ Gimpel is the team's top returning diver after recording a pair of fourth place finishes at the conference championships as a freshman.

The Explorers added a sextet of freshman to the team this year, many of whom come in with an impressive resume through their prep years.

The Explorers will look to build up their times and see where they stand at the Bucknell Invitational (Nov 19-22). The conference championships are scheduled for February 19-22 at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio.