UTICA, NY – The Utica College men and women swim and dive teams will start their season on Saturday as they head to Oneonta, NY to compete in the Hartwick College Quad Meet. UC will face The College of Saint Rose, Cazenovia College and Hartwick College at the opening meet, which is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
 
New Faces: The women's team will be adding seven new swimmers to this year's roster. The incoming freshman class includes Emma Blenis (Norwich, NY/Norwich), Jamie Cassetta (Franklin Square, NY/Carey), Emma Ormsby (Potsdam, NY/Potsdam), Kira Seaman (Fort Edward, NY/Hudson Falls) and Kelly Waryncia (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa). Junior Courtney Kennedy (Smithtown, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) and senior Michalyn Winkler (Barto, PA/Upper Perkiomen) from the UC water polo team will also be joining the swim team this season.
 
The men are welcoming four new members to the squad for the 2018-2019 season. Freshmen Barry Coleman, Jake DeMarco, Brandon Matos, and Jackson Sorbello make up the list of newcomers for the team.
 
Returning Crew: Five swimmers are returning from last season, including two seniors and three juniors for the women's roster. The senior class consists of Ashley Flint (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) and Lara McNamara (Yonkers, NY/Maria Regina), while Emily Czerwonka (Souderton, PA/Souderton Area), Daniela Hannah (Dalton, GA/Northwest Whitfield) and Rebecca Merrill (Chelmsford, MA/Chelmsford) return to the team for their junior campaigns.
 
The men's team is bringing back five members from last season's team. Second Team All-Conference selection TJ Tellekamp and classmate Daniel Angotti are back as the two seniors. The junior class will be represented by Sean Neary and diver Matt Patton. Michael Leyburn will be the team's lone sophomore this year.
 
Hartwick Quad Meet: At last year's Hartwick College Quad Meet, the women went 1-2. The Pioneers lost to Hartwick (62-224) and the College of Saint Rose (100-170), but managed to defeat Cazenovia (159-85).
 
The men also went 1-2 at the meet last season. UC lost to Hartwick (53-215) and the College of Saint Rose (75-177), but was victorious against Cazenovia (154-4). TJ Tellekamp placed first in the 100-yard freestyle event individually and as a member of the 200-yard medley relay team that came in third at the meet. This marks the sixth consecutive season that the Pioneers open their season at the Hartwick Quad Meet.
 
Looking Ahead: The women's team will head to Geneva, NY on October 27^th to face William Smith College, beginning at 1 p.m. The men have a longer wait, as the team prepares for Wells College and Roberts Wesleyan for an away meet on November 3^rd. The meet is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.