PREVIEW VIDEO | 2019-20 WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING SCHEDULE | 2019-20 MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING SCHEDULE

WESTON, Mass. – After close to a month of official practice, the Regis College swimming and diving teams embark on the 2019-20 season looking to continue the success of the program.

Last year, both the men's and women's squads finished second at the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championships and seventh at the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) Championships. Each team welcomes back several top performers as well as newcomers to add depth for the new season.

The men's team is young with no seniors, but junior captain Grant Kollien (Acton, Mass.) will provide the leadership. Kollien won the 1000 freestyle at the GNAC Championships, plus he finished second in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. Sophomore Brendan Pike (Weymouth, Mass.) finished ahead of Kollien to win the GNAC title in the 500 freestyle, plus he finished in the top 12 in three events at the NEISDA Championships.

Another returner looking to repeat his past success is sophomore GianCarlos Banrey (Roslindale, Mass.), the GNAC champion in the 50 butterfly and 100 butterfly. Banrey finished in the top five in three individual events at the 2019 NEISDA Championships as he emerged as one of the top swimmers in the region.

The Pride women are a solid mix of experience and youth, including six seniors led by captains Sarah Leonard (Brockton, Mass.) and Ryan Moran (Arlington, Mass.). Last season, Leonard won the 50 backstroke at the GNAC Championships for the second straight year and set a school record in the 50 backstroke to lead off the league-winning 200 medley relay.

Moran was one of Regis' top long-distance swimmers last year along with fellow senior Gloria Sutton (Suffield, Conn.) and junior Thalia Bowie (Lexington, Mass.). Top returning swimmers in the specialty strokes include Kyleigh Boatwright (Roseville, Calif.) in the backstroke, Julia Burke (North Andover, Mass.) in the breaststroke, and Alexa Lancisi (Milford, Mass.) and Jessica Zernitsky (Newton, Mass.) in the butterfly.

Senior Elisabeth McQuaid (Marlborough, Mass.) wants to return to the NCAA Diving Regionals after qualifying for the first time in her collegiate career last year. In one-meter diving, McQuaid finished second at the NEISDA Championships and third at the GNAC Championships, plus she set the school records for highest score across the board (five dives, six dives, and 11 dives).

The Pride open the 2019-20 season with road contests at University of New England this Saturday, Oct. 12, and at the Roger Williams Invitational Oct. 19. Regis will host four meets this year, starting Oct. 26 against Bridgewater State and Eastern Connecticut State. The Pride will also welcome conference rivals Saint Joseph's College (Nov. 22) and Albertus Magnus (Jan. 4), plus they will host the Regis Invitational Dec. 8.

The GNAC Championships will be truly a neutral site meet this year, taking place at the new Wellesley Sports Center Jan. 31-Feb. 2. The NEISDA Championships will be held at the URI Tootell Aquatic Center in Kingston, R.I., Feb. 13-16.

James Sweeney enters his eighth year as head coach of the Regis swimming and diving teams. He is once again joined by assistant coaches Cameron Fadley and Richard Davies, both beginning their second year with the Pride.