Men's Swimming and Diving | October 19, 2018

PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle University swimming and diving teams open their 2018-19 campaign on Saturday afternoon at Kirk Pool, as it hosts Drexel for a dual meet. The Explorers look to build upon their record breaking season of 2017-18.

Head swimming & diving coach Jamie Platt, entering his fourth season at the helm and 17th season as a member of La Salle Swimming and Diving staff, expects these teams to raise the bar in practice and in competitions. With a core group of swimmers, a strong recruiting class, and an experienced diving squad, Platt is confident this team can compete with the rest of the conference.

"It is a fun atmosphere around our program.  We have a group that cares about each other, enjoys each other and expects the best from each other.  I've been on Kirk Pool deck for many years and this group has something special about it.  We expect to have another big year with this program."

With a small senior class of four (two men, two women), the Explorers will rely upon contributions from every class this season. This talented group of swimmers and divers will look to fill in the gaps, led by seniors Olivia DiStefano, Collin Kessinger, Aleksandar Nikolic and Kyle McElwee.

DiStefano holds a pair of individual school records (50 free and 100 back), and was part of the 200 medley relay at Atlantic 10 Championships that set a school record last season. Kessinger also earned points for the Explorers at A-10's in the 400 IM, the 200 breaststroke and the 400 medley relay.  Nikolic was a member of the school-record setting 800 freestyle relay team at A-10 championships and previously held the La Salle school record in the 200 free before Bergman broke it at the same event.  McElwee too was a member of the record-breaking 800 free team at A-10's and provides veteran leadership to a young team that features 12 freshmen or sophomores.
 
The junior class has a group of performers as well. Another student-athlete that has broken records during her time at La Salle is junior Emily Wolbert. Wolbert holds the school 200 fly record and will be a key performer in the IM events too. Marcus Forsgren, second fastest performances in school history in the 50 free and 100 free, will be relied upon for the sprints and breaststroke events again this year.  

On the boards, Blake Griffith, earned bronze in the 1-meter diving competition in 2018, will once again be key to the diving events. Women juniors Emma Capro will be called upon in the distance events, Peyton Griffin and Madi Paradkar in the fly events and Carrie Horan in the breaststroke events. Each one provides head coach Jamie Platt experienced options. On the mens side, Sean Barbour and Dani Braunshtain will contribute in the butterfly events. Freestyler Norman Gregory will be a force to be dealt with again in freestyle and butterfly and a key contributor on relays. Junior South African Christoff Ras can race all strokes, but will focus on the breaststroke and 400 IM once again this season.
 
Seven Explorers are entering their second seasons at La Salle. Sophomore women Julie D'Amore (diving), Lizzie Nadolski (free) and Lilly Quinn (back/fly/IM), all look to build upon their first college season. Sophomore men Isaiah Gregory (Breaststroke/IM), Daniel Johnson (free), Paolo Sunyak (free/bk) and Gustov Swedenborg, who finished 4th in the 400 IM at Atlantic 10 Championships (free/IM), will continue their rise within the A-10.

Fourteen newcomers will bolster the lineup for the Explorers, with members of the class hailing from Connecticut, Colorado, Germany, Pennsylvania, Texas and South Africa. The newcomers will bring a youthful exuberance to the team and will be key contributors immediately.  

Samara Cheifetz (fly/back), Anne Moser (free), Sara Rizzetto (free/IM/back), Phoebe Shaya (diving), Kaitlyn Smykowski (diving) and Sarah Wyant (free) have already impacted the team in daily workouts and will do the same on competition days. Jackson Green (free), Brooks Hauge (free), Sergei Shaw (diving), Dillon Simpson (fly/free/IM), Steven Stasolla (diving), Ian Venter (back/free), Zack Wolbert (fly/IM) and Josh Zawatski (free) are all looking for their opportunity to help the team.