George Washington University Athletics
GW Swimming & Diving Opens 2016-17 on Friday
9/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
| GW at Queens | GW at Davidson |
| Friday, Sept. 30, 5:30 p.m. | Saturday, Oct. 1, 11 a.m. |
| Charlotte, N.C. | Levine Center | Davidson, N.C. | Charles A. Cannon Pool |
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GW Men's Season Preview | GW Women's Season Preview
WASHINGTON - The George Washington men's and women's swimming and diving teams are set to open the 2016-17 season with a two-day meet on the road in North Carolina.
The Colonials will visit Queens on Friday for a 5:30 p.m. meet to begin the season. GW's men will take on host Queens and Davidson, while the women will compete in a quad meet with the addition of UNC-Asheville at the Royals' Levine Center. On Saturday, the Buff and Blue will visit Davidson for the meet's conclusion. The men will take on the host Wildcats and Queens and the women will once again face the addition of UNC-Asheville at Davidson's Charles A. Cannon Pool.
On the men's side, the Colonials return the men's first All-America selection in senior Andrea Bolognesi, who set three individual and Atlantic 10 records (100 breast, 100 fly, 200 IM) at the 2016 A-10 Championships before taking an eighth-place finish in the 100 breast at the 2016 NCAA Championships. Bolgnesi stamped his name in GW's record book seven times last season, helping the Colonials post program bests in the 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay in addition to his individual records.
Junior Gustav Hokfelt also returns for GW after a stellar 2015-16 during which he helped the Colonials in each of its four record-setting relays while adding a program best in the 100 back.
For the women, Senior Lauren Law and sophomore Emily Zhang return as two of GW's top performers from last season. Law set program records in both the 200 and 400 IM as a junior, and Zhang broke into GW's all-time top 10 list in four events as a rookie (100 Free, 200 Free, 200 IM, 400 IM).
The Buff and Blue added a talented group of 19 rookies across the program - 10 women and nine men - to the fold for 2016-17.
A year ago, both Queens' men's and women's squads won the Division II National Championship for the second year in a row, with 11 Royals earning All-America status on the women's side and nine on the men's side.
One of the top teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference, Davidson's women finished third at the 2016 A-10 Championships. The Wildcats return the league's two-time Most Outstanding Performer Elise Lankiewicz, who grabbed six gold medals - 200 free, 500 free, 1,650 free, 800 free relay, 400 medley relay, 400 free relay - at the 2016 Championships.
On the men's side, Davidson placed seventh at the 2016 A-10 Championships. The Wildcats graduated 2016 Olympic Trials qualifier Luke Burton last spring - the squad's top performer at last year's Championships and seven-time program record holder.
UNC-Asheville took seventh at the 2016 Coastal College Sports Association (CCSA) Championships. Head coach Elizabeth Lykins grabbed Co-Coach of the Year honors after notching back-to-back program-best finishes at the league meet.
Players Mentioned
