WESTON, Mass. – After four weeks of official practice, the Regis College swimming and diving teams enter the 2018-19 competition schedule with their sights set on continuing the improvement the program has shown in recent years.

James Sweeney enters his seventh season as head coach of the Pride. Richard Davies returns for his second year as an assistant coach overseeing the divers, while Cameron Fadley, a record-setting swimmer at La Salle University, begins his first season as an assistant coach at Regis.

Both the men's and women's teams finished second at last year's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championships. Sweeney is counting on his veterans to provide leadership, especially early in the season, while the newcomers make the adjustment to collegiate swimming and diving in order to make an impact on the program by February, when the championship meets take place.

Sweeney was named GNAC Coach of the Year in men's swimming last year, but he will need to find a way to replace Nick Rainville, the GNAC Swimmer of the Year who graduated last spring. Coming off conference titles in the 200 freestyle relay and the 200 individual medley, senior Joshua Unas (Santa Clarita, Calif.) will serve as captain of the Pride men this year.

Another returner to watch is Grant Kollien (Acton, Mass.), whose freshman campaign last year was highlighted by a second place finish in the 1650 freestyle and third place finishes in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle at the GNAC Championships. In total, seven men will return to the Pride swimming and diving squad this year, and they will be joined by three freshmen.

For the women, senior Katherine Mariano (Newton, Mass.) and junior Sarah Leonard (Brockton, Mass.) will be the captains for a squad that includes 12 returners and eight newcomers. Junior Elisabeth McQuaid (Marlborough, Mass.) comes back after setting the GNAC record in winning the one-meter diving competition at the league championships as well as breaking the school record with a second-place finish in the same event at the NEISDA Championships.

Among the women to watch is Leonard, the GNAC champion in the 50 backstroke as well as a part of the conference-winning 200 freestyle relay squad. Gloria Sutton (Suffield, Conn.) was strong in the distance events, finishing third in both the 500 freestyle and 1650 freestyle at the GNAC Championships, while Jessica Zernitsky (Newton, Mass.) showed her speed with second-place showings in both the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle as well as a third place finish in the 50 butterfly.

Regis will host five meets this season, beginning with the season opener Saturday, Oct. 13, against the University of New England. The Pride will also host the Regis Invitational Dec. 1 and defending GNAC women's swimming and diving champion Simmons on Jan. 12.

The 2019 GNAC Championships will take place at Simmons College Feb. 1-3, while the NEISDA Championships will be held at MIT Feb. 21-24.