POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Both the men's and women's swimming & diving programs begin the 2019-20 season on Friday, October 19 against the Canisius Golden Griffins. Both teams head to Buffalo, NY for a Friday morning matchup. The meet is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

 

LAST SEASON

The men's squad finished the 2018-19 year with an overall record of 9-3, and a 4-1 record in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Just like this year, the Red Foxes also opened last season against Canisius, and the men were able to pick up a 178-116 victory. In the MAAC Championships, the Red Foxes finished in third place, just 18.5 points behind second place Bryant. Rider finished in first place with 781 points.

The women closed the 2018-19 season with a 5-7 overall record, and a 2-2 record in conference play. The women's squad also opened last season against the Golden Griffins, however the Red Foxes were thwarted by a score of 160-140. Despite not finishing the year with the record they may have wanted, the Red Foxes had an excellent run in the MAAC Championships. The team finished in second place with 646 points, with the next closest team being Rider with 551.5 points. The only team that was able to edge Marist was Fairfield, who finished with 776 total points

 

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

According to a preseason poll by the coaches throughout the conference, women's swimming & diving was selected to finish second in the MAAC, while the men were picked to finish third in the conference. Coincidentally, these were both the exact places that both programs finished at last year's MAAC Championships. The reigning MAAC Champions, Rider for the men and Fairfield for the women, were both selected to finish atop the conference again this year. Fairfield (99) received nine of 10 first place votes, while Rider (97) received seven first place votes. Marist's men's program received 76 points, while the women's program received 83 points.

 

A SIT DOWN WITH SALLAM

Heading into this season, the men's swimming and diving team has four international students on its roster. The four international students are a record for the program, and Head Coach Larry VanWagner believes it is an incredible accomplishment. Students traveling from overseas in order to join the Red Foxes is a sign of great success and growth.

Ahmed Sallam, one of the new international students joining the Red Foxes this season, comes to Marist all the way from Cairo, Egypt, and was a member of the Egyptian National Team. The aspiring Olympian decided to continue his career at Marist, not only for the athletics, but also for the education. "I knew that Marist had a great computer science program, and has a specialty in software development," Sallam said. "So, I chose Marist because it had one of the best academic programs in my field of study, but I also knew that Marist has one of the great swimming programs as well. This would help me further both my professional and academic career."

He has really enjoyed his time so far working with VanWagner, and the rest of the swimming & diving team. The support he has received from VanWagner has really helped him adjust to the new setting, but also improve as a swimmer. "Coach Larry is always motivating me, and helping me to get better, faster and stronger," Sallam said. "When I first came here from Egypt, I was afraid to lead my lane. I was very hesitant, and just afraid to go out in first. Larry noticed my potential and helped me get my head right." VanWagner said to Sallam "You are a great swimmer. You just need to focus on it and clear your mind and you can be whatever you want, a great distance swimmer, a sprinter, anything. I don't want to see you EVER at the end of the lane again. From here on, you are going to be LEADING the lane." This moment really stuck with Sallam, and he credits it as the moment he remembers most that really helped him feel comfortable here in Poughkeepsie. "From that point on, I was leading one of the fastest lanes in the pool almost every time," Sallam said with a smile.
 
Sallam gives a ton of credit to Assistant Coach Ethan Fergus, who he says has played a major role in helping him in adjusting to the new program. Sallam said, "Coach Fergus has really been pushing me hard. He knows my limits, but he helps me to push past those limits every practice in order for me to get better," Sallam said. "During a practice, I was swimming with my teammates and was happy that I came in second place, and coach Fergus got mad at me. He told me that second place is the first loser, so you need to make sure you are always coming in first. You need to push your limits, you can do it, and have the skills to always come in first." Sallam went on to say, "I realized that I can still improve so much thanks to Coach Larry and Coach Fergus."
 
Sallam believes that one day soon he will be swimming in the Olympics as a professional swimmer. He thanks VanWagner, Fergus, and everyone else with involvement in the program for helping him become a better swimmer, and a better man. Thanks to their help, he has found new found passion to try and reach his ultimate goal of swimming in the Olympics.

 

A NEW LOOK

Two new coaches will be joining VanWagner's staff ahead of the 2019-20 season. Brian Bolstad, the son of Associate Head Coach/Head Diving Coach Melanie Bolstad, will be joining the staff as an assistant diving coach.

Mark Miller will also be joining the staff as an assistant coach, after swimming four seasons of swimming for the Red Foxes from 2015-2019. Miller was a three-time member of the MAAC All-Academic Team. He had many highlights his senior season, which include placing as high as 13th in the 200 IM at the ECAC Championships, and placing second in the 200 IM against Canisius.

 

WHO'S BACK?

Headlining the crop of returnees on both the men's and women's teams are the team captains. Jessica Miller returns in her second stint as captain, along with first-timers Esabelle Gervasio, John Hurley, Raislan Aiken, and Michael O'Donovan.

Miller is a two-time member of the MAAC All-Academic team. She set a personal best of 54.66 in the 100-yard freestyle at the MAAC Championships in 2018-19.

Gervasio was crowed the ECAC Champion for the 3-meter dive and the 1-meter dive last year, as well as the MAAC Champion of the 1-meter dive. She was a three-time MAAC diver of the week, and was named both the MAAC and ECAC Championships Diver of the Meet.

Hurley was a member of the MAAC All-Academic Team last year. He won the 1000 Free in four different meets.

Last season, Aiken won both the ECAC 1-meter and the ECAC 3-meter. He was also named the MAAC Diver of the Week on 10/17.

O'Donovan was the MAAC Champion of the 500-yard Freestyle in 2017-18. Last season, One of his best highlights included winning both the 500 free and the 1000 free three times in a row to start the season against Canisius, Fordham, and Rider.
 
 

SCOUTING CANISIUS

The Golden Griffins' men's swimming & diving team finished last season with a 5-3 overall record. They finished in the middle of the pack in the MAAC Championships with 294 points. This was good for fifth place, slotting right behind Iona but in front of Monmouth. The men's team opened 2019 with a victory over the University of Rochester, with a highlight performance from Kenyon Winkky. He earned first in all four of his events, which helped secure the victory.

The women's team is off to a quick start this year, downing the University of Rochester in its first meet of the year. Dana Bender was named the MAAC Women Swimmer of the Week after earning three first-place finishes in the 400-yard medley relay, 50-yard backstroke, and the 100-yard backstroke. Additionally, Gianna Cornelia was named the MAAC's Female Diver of the Week. She took the top spot in the 3-meter event, and then posted the top score on the 1-meter board, earning first place for the event. Last year, the Golden Griffins finished with a record of 4-4, and placed fourth in the MAAC Championships with 385 points.

 

UP NEXT

The Red Foxes' home opener will be on Thursday, October 24. Marist will host Fordham University, in a non-conference meet. The start of the meet is set for 6 p.m.