Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State swimming and diving programs open their season this Saturday as they face The College of New Jersey in a dual-meet.
 
MEET DETAILS
The season-opening meet takes place in Ewing, NJ, at 2 pm.
 
MEN'S 2020-21 SEASON IN REVIEW
The men's team went 2-1, picking up victories over William Paterson and Ramapo while falling to TCNJ. Last winter, they claimed 17 spots on the All-NJAC Team, with RYAN KAPPES earning Honorable Mention All-NJAC in both the 500 and 1,650. Fellow freshman SPENSER DUBOIS was First Team in the 200-breaststroke, as fellow-returners CHRYSTIAN MUHLEISEN, GREG KARBACK, EIKER JACOME, TYLER DORSETT, and ALEX PALLEN all gained NJAC accolades.
 
WOMEN'S 2020-21 SEASON IN REVIEW
The women's side went 3-1, notching victories over William Paterson, Ramapo, and Kean. Rookie LIDIA BOGUSLAWSKA was a First Team All-NJAC in 200-freestyle, Second Team in the 50 and 100-freestyle, and Honorable Mention in the 100-butterfly. Additionally, she was named the NJAC Rookie of the Week on two occasions. TAYLOR WADDLETON earned First Team All-NJAC in the 1,650-freestyle and Second Team in the 500-free, while EMILY ROTHAMEL was First Team in the 100-backstroke and Second Team in the 200-back.
 
SCHEDULE
After opening with TCNJ, the Red Hawks compete in a tri-meet at Drew on October 22, featuring Moravian. MSU opens their home slate with back-to-back meets against Vassar (October 30) and Rowan (November 6) before heading to Franklin & Marshall for three days in mid-November. The Red Hawks close out the fall against the College of Staten Island on December 19 before resuming completion in 2022. The non-conference slate ends against FDU-Florham on January 19 before closing out the conference portion of their schedule with meets against Ramapo and William Paterson. After a year hiatus, the Metropolitan Championships and will once again be contested at Rutgers University. The meet features Division I, II, and III teams and spans four days from February 17-20.
 
MEN'S KEY RETURNERS
The men's team will lean on sophomores SPENSER DUBOIS and RYAN KAPPES, junior ALEX PALLEN, and senior TYLER DORSETT. Dubois was a part of two pool-record times in his first year at MSU, helping the 200-freestyle relay and 400-medley relay establish new Panzer Pool Standards. Last winter, Kappes was named the NJAC Rookie of the Week after winning both the 500-freestyle and 200-medley relay in a tri-meet victory over Ramapo and William Paterson. Dorsett will be counted on to lead the distance events and notched a PR in the 100-butterfly last winter with a time of 52.69. The lone diver on the men's side, Pallen, to build off his Honorable Mention All-NJAC performance last winter and top his PR in the six-dives score of 204.15, which was set back on January 25, 2020, against William Paterson.
 
MEN'S NEWCOMERS
The coaching staff highlighted four newcomers that can have a significant impact on the squad this year. DENNIS DELARGY is a rookie backstroker who swam with the Morris County Swim Club, while JOHN ENGLERT and LUCAS GOMES swim the butterfly. Gomes will also compete in several freestyle events this season. Rounding out the top newcomers is BRANDON DO, who was a member of the Scarlett Aquatics Clun with fellow newcomer JUSTIN CONILLAS.
 
WOMEN'S TOP RETURNERS
Boguslawska hopes to enjoy a second successful season this year and will be counted to score points in the sprint events. Last season she placed first in the 200-free (1:58.86) and second in the 50-free (24.71), 100-free (54.5), and the 100-butterfly (59.74) against TCNJ on March 5. Waddleton hit PR's in four different events last year; the 50-free (27.37), 100-free (57.55), 200-free (2:01.19), and the 50-back (31.23) and will be looking to contribute in the short events this year. The final piece of the returning puzzle is Rothamel, who holds team records in the 100-backstroke (58.56) and 200-back (2:07.08). The graduate student also sees her name on the 200-medley relay leaderboard (1:47.65).
 
WOMEN'S NEWCOMERS
AMBER ROCHELEAU joins the team from Newington, Conn, and will be counted on to tally points in the freestyle events. Another out-of-state swimmer looking to make an impact is ABBY BROCK. Brock is one of the breaststroke swimmers on the roster, while JULIANA SKOPP-CARDILLO hopes to contribute to the freestyle scoring with Rocheleau. HANNAH GEIB joins the diving team as she teams with KYLIE MCGUIRE and SABRINA ROBINSON to make up the diving trio.
 
COACH MCLAUGHLIN'S THOUGHTS
On the men's team...
"We are in a perfect position, with the influx of a strong freshmen class, to avenge two, or more, close losses that occurred during the 2019-20 season."

On the women's team
"This team has the perfect blend of quality and depth to have the best season in literally decades. All things are possible when you have the pieces; it is our job to put them together. We are beyond fortunate to have two super seniors (SOPHIA CIARAVINO and EMILY ROTHAMEL) to lead the way this year."