Swim and Dive Opens Season at Virginia Tech

Saturday, October 1

Blacksburg, VA

11 AM

George Washington University

Virginia Tech

Swim and Dive celebrating their 2022 A-10 titles in the pool

9/30/2022 10:35:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

The Buff and Blue begin a new campaign, looking to defend its A-10 titles

WASHINGTON - GW men's and women's swimming and diving is back in action and looking to defend their respective A-10 titles as they open the season this Saturday against a pair of opponents, Virginia Tech (ACC) and Ohio (MAC).

The season starts for the second-consecutive year with a meet against the Hokies. Last year, the Buff and Blue fell to Virginia Tech at home, so GW will be looking to enact revenge this year in Blacksburg.

Building On The Past:
The men are seeking a repeat A-10 title and sixth conference crown in seven seasons, while the women are looking to go back-to-back and earn its third A-10 title in four years. Both sides placed first in the recently released A-10 preseason polls, having earned all 19 total first place votes.

GW is returning plenty of talent from its championship rosters a season ago.

On the men's side the Colonials return six swimmers who had their names put into the Buff and Blue record books. Redshirt junior Djurdje Matic owned last year's short distance swims, setting new A-10 records and earning gold in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly, and 200-yard butterfly.

Graduate student Marek Osina was chosen as last year's A-10 Most Outstanding Performer, and for good reason. Osina set a new A-10 record and earned gold at last year's A-10 Championships in the 200-yard individual medley. He was also a member of the 200-yard medley relay, in which Djurdje Matic, Tyler Kawakami, Karol Mlynarczyk set a new GW and A-10 record.

The men are also returning last year's A-10 Most Outstanding Rookie Performer, Connor Rodgers.

GW's women were just as dominant last year, earning first place at the A-10 Championships while setting multiple GW records. Erin McCarthy was a force, taking home two individual golds at the last year's A-10 Championships in the 500-yard freestyle and 1,650-yard freestyle.

The women were no stranger to the Buff and Blue record book last season, inking six new all-time GW records. Marlee Rickert recorded the program's fastest 100-yard backstroke, while Barbara Schaal set a new fastest time in the 200-yard backstroke. Now senior Stine Omdahl Petersen broke GW's 200-yard breaststroke record, and Julia Knox had two record swims last year, in the 200 and 400-yard individual medleys. Knox, Rickert, Schaal and Ava DeAngelis combined for a new GW record in the 400-yard medley.

Along with the returning talent, GW swim & dive is welcoming 18 newcomers this season, 11 women and seven men.

Looking ahead:
Following the Virginia Tech meet, GW will return home for a dual meet against Old Dominion. Eight meets are on the schedule for fall of 2022, and three scheduled to take place in early 2023 before the A-10 Conference Championships and NCAA Championships.