UTICA, NY – The Utica College men's and women's swim & dive teams will start their season on Friday night in the Utica College Quad Meet before traveling Oneonta, New York for the Hartwick Quad Meet Saturday afternoon. The women's team is set for matchups against William Smith and Cazenovia on Friday night, while the men's team will only face Cazenovia. The Hartwick Quad Meet on Saturday will showcase Utica College, Saint Rose, Hartwick and SUNY Cobleskill.
 
New Faces: The women's team will be adding five new swimmers to this year's roster. The incoming freshman class includes Kate Anderson (Lynbrook, NY/Lynbrook), Jasmine Bigdoski (Irondequoit, NY/Eastridge), Mackenzie Farina (Amsterdam/Amsterdam) and Sara Kuiken (Valley Falls, NY/Tamarack). The Pioneers also added one transfer in sophomore Katie Delgado (Greene, NY/Broome CCC), who spent her freshman year at Broome County Community College.
 
The men's team is also welcoming five new members to its squad for the 2019-20 season. Michael Colocho (Utica, NY/Proctor), Lucas Dilego, Nick Massa (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) and Phillip Ross (Newark, NY/Newark) will all enter their first collegiate season, while junior Terrell Davis (Yonkers, NY/Martin Luther King) will enter his first season at Utica as a transfer.
 
Returning Crew: Eight swimmers are returning from last season, including four sophomores and four seniors. The senior class includes Emily Czerwonka (Souderton, PA/Souderton Area), Daniela Hannah (Dalton, GA/Northwest Whitfield), Courtney Kennedy (Smithtown, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) and Rebecca Merrill (Chelmsford, MA/Chelmsford). The sophomore class showcases Emma Blenis (Norwich, NY/Norwich), Emma Ormsby (Potsdam, NY/Potsdam), Kira Seaman (Fort Edward, NY/Hudson Falls) and Kelly Waryncia (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa).
 
The men's team is bringing back five members from last season's team. Sean Neary (Marlborough, CT/Montana State) and Matt Patton (Waterford, CT/Waterford) will serve as the two senior leaders on this squad. Michael Leyburn (Monson, MA/Monson) is the sole junior on the team, while sophomores Coleman Barry (Levittown, NY/Division) and Jackson Sorbello (Rome, NY/RFA) round out the roster for the Pioneers.

Utica College Quad Meet: The Pioneers dominated across the board in last year's Utica College quad meet, sweeping the competition with a perfect 6-0 record between the men's and women's programs. Both teams topped Herkmier, Roberts Wesleyan and Cazenovia in convincing fashion:
Women's Swim & Dive

• Herkimer - 126-34
• Roberts Wesleyan - 101-94
• Cazenovia - 121-54

Men's Swim & Dive

• Roberts Wesleyan - 131-33
• Cazenovia - 136-16
• Herkimer - 131-13

Some highlights from this meet included then-freshman Coleman Barry (Levittown, NY/Division) earning the top spot in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:14.74 and clocked in at 11:23.80 to win the 1,000-yard freestyle race. In the 200-yard IM and 200-yard breaststroke events, Michael Leyburn (Monson, MA/Monson) finished first with times of 2:23.13 and 2:33.01, respectively. Diver Matt Patton (Waterford, CT/Waterford) went uncontested in the two diving events, earning two top-place finishes.

Rebecca Merrill (Chelmsford, MA/Chelmsford) led the women's team, placing first in the 200-yard butterfly and the 200-yard IM individually. Daniela Hannah (Dalton, GA/Northwest Whitfield) also swam times of 2:16.10 in the 200-yard freestyle and 5:56.59 in the 500-yard freestyle, earning a top place finish in both. These two teamed up with Jamie Cassetta and Ashley Flint (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro) to take home the top spot in the 400-yard medley relay to round out the afternoon

Hartwick Quad Meet: The women went 1-2 at last year's Hartwick quad meet, with a win over SUNY Cobleskill (152-62) and losses to Hartwick (227-43) and Saint Rose (178-77). Merrill led the Pioneers in this meet, notching a third place finish in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:30.65.
 
The men also went 1-2 at the meet last season, beating Cobleskill (113-22) and losing to Hartwick (225-44) and St. Rose (191-50). Patton highlighted this meet for UC, taking home first place in both the 1 meter (193.55) and 3 meter (193.20) diving events, beating out his competition from Hartwick.
 
Looking Ahead: Both the men's and women's teams will return home this Friday for a dual meet with Hamilton College at 5:30 p.m. before heading to the Roberts Wesleyan Invitational the next day in Rochester.