BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 2025-26 Patriot League men’s swimming and diving season begins this weekend, with all 10 programs competing by October.
After capturing its 10th Patriot League championship in program history and first since 2001, Army West Point looks to repeat as the Black Knights return nine All-League performers, including 2024 Patriot League Rookie and Swimmer of the Meet Johnny Crush.
Navy, which will serve as host of the 2025-26 Patriot League Men’s Swimming & Diving Championship, finished as the runner-up last season after winning the title every year from 2004 through 2024. The Midshipmen welcome back 16 All-League honorees, led by Ben Irwin, the men’s highest point scorer last season.
The
2025-26 Patriot League Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships are set to take place on Wednesday, February 18 through Saturday, February 21 at the United States Naval Academy’s Lejeune Hall in Annapolis, Md.
AMERICAN EAGLES
Head Coach: Garland Bartlett (5th season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 18/7
All-League Returnees: None
Fifth-year head coach Garland Bartlett returns 18 letterwinners from last year’s squad and welcomes eight newcomers this season. The Eagles will lean on juniors Connor Florence and Lucas Standridge headed into the 2025-26 campaign.
Coach Garland Bartlett on the Eagles: “We have added eight new members to the men’s team who have already impressed the coaching staff from the first day of the season. We have very strong leadership this year from the upperclassmen, and when combined with this freshmen class, I know will make it a very successful season!”
ARMY WEST POINT BLACK KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Brandt Nigro (7th season)
Letterwinners returning: 21
All-League Returnees: First Team- Brice Barrieault, Johnny Crush, Thomas Hadji, Joey Kling, Kohen Rankin, Daniel Verdolaga;
Second Team- Riley Groves, Kalvin Hahn, Ben Vorthmann
Army West Point will look to defend their Patriot League championship under seventh-year head coach and 2025 Men’s Swim Coach of the Year Brandt Nigro after capturing their first title since 2021 last season. Led by Patriot League Men’s Swimmer and Rookie of the Meet Johnny Crush, the Black Knights return several All-League performers, including first-teamers Brice Barrieault, Thomas Hadji, Joey Kling, Kohen Rankin and Daniel Verdolaga, along with second-teamers Riley Groves, Kalvin Hahn and Ben Vorthmann.
Coach Brandt Nigro on the Black Knights: "We are coming off historic seasons for both our men’s and women’s teams. However, our team is as hungry and determined as ever. As much as we have accomplished in the past few years there is still so much we have left to do. We have strong leadership and experience in our Firstie class. We return a lot of talent and depth in our Cow and Yuk classes. And, we are excited to welcome in a large and well-rounded plebe class. Our challenge will be to stay focused on us and getting better each day. Not giving in to the expectations or losing sight of the big picture. This will be a long season and our main goals don’t come until February and March.”
BOSTON UNIVERSITY TERRIERS
Head Coach: James Sica (3rd season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 14/6
All-League Returnees: None
Under third-year head coach James Sica, Boston University returns 14 letterwinners from last year’s fifth place finish, including juniors Zein Mahana and Jonny Farber, along with sophomores Giovanni Sullo and Charles Schreiner.
Coach James Sica on the Terriers: “This is going to be an awesome season for BU men's swimming & diving. We have 11 newcomers on the men's side, with six first-year swimmers, three first-year divers and two transfers. All our new additions to the roster have the ability to make an immediate impact, and our entire men's team has started off the season working hard and having a lot of fun. This is an extremely motivated group that has big goals for each other, and I am excited to see what they will accomplish in the 2025-26 season!”
BUCKNELL BISON
Head Coach: Dan Schinnerer (20th season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 23/6
All-League Returnees: None
Head coach Dan Schinnerer begins his 20th season leading the Bucknell men’s swimming and program. The Bison welcome back 23 letterwinners from last year’s squad that finished fourth at the 2025 Patriot League Championships including, senior Jackson Vinarub, juniors Riley Twiss, James Lombardi and Finn Russell and sophomore Dante Buonadonna.
Coach Dan Schinnerer on the Bison: “We lost a very impactful class to graduation this past spring with four seniors being on our school record board, but we are very excited both about our incoming class and the improvement of our returning class. We look forward to continuing to improve as a team inside of the always improving Patriot League.”
COLGATE RAIDERS
Head Coach: Ed Pretre (7th season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 14/8
All-League Returnees: None
Colgate enters the 2025-26 season under seventh-year head coach Ed Pretre with 14 letters returning from last year’s squad. With the addition of four divers and an impactful first-year class, Pretre expects several student-athletes to contribute at this year’s Patriot League Championships.
Coach Ed Pretre on the Raiders: “If we stay healthy, our men’s team is going to surprise some people this year,” Pretre said. “We have four divers—which is something we haven’t had since I’ve been here—and that’s going to be a huge advantage for us. Our first-year class may be small on the swimming side, but it’s mighty. All four of these young men have the potential to make an impact and score for us at the Patriot League Championship.”
HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS
Head Coach: Kristy Jones (4th season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 20/6
All-League Returnees: None
Fourth-year head coach Kristy Jones welcomes back 20 letterwinners from last year’s lineup, including four student-athletes that earned top-15 finishes in their respective events. Seniors Zach Bubonovich and Jack Greiner, junior Luke Parada and sophomore Griffin Casey lead the Crusaders into the 2025-26 campaign.
Coach Kristy Jones on the Raiders: "Last year's success was just the beginning. We are bringing back our top scorers and adding a talented freshman class to our men's swimming & diving roster that will make an immediate impact. The expectation for this season is to build on that momentum and raise the bar even higher."
LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS
Head Coach: James Dailey (31st season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 18/9
All-League Returnees: None
Head coach James Dailey enters his 31st season at the helm of the Lafayette program and will rely on several underclassmen to lead the Leopards after the departure of eight student-athletes who set multiple program records. Seniors Peter Curtis, Tommy Weber and Sean McManus along with juniors Landon Orth, Alexander Zoldan, Alex Reihl and Trey Telleen, are set to be Lafayette’s top performers this season.
Coach James Dailey on the Leopards: “The 2025-26 season will be interesting for us. The team graduated eight swimmers/divers that accounted for 11 school records. They were also prolific leaders. The younger classes are willing and able to move into those leadership roles and with our first years can put up the times and scores that will be even better than the '24-'25 season. We are looking forward to our dual meet season and Patriot League Championships.”
LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS
Head Coach: Rob Herb (22nd season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 13/5
All-League Returnees: None
Lehigh heads into the 2025-26 campaign under 22nd-year head coach Rob Herb, who is excited about the team’s depth across every class of student-athletes. Graduate student Jack Grotke, seniors Ben Kisker and Aaron Williams, along with sophomores Jack Deppe and Tristan Ronayne, look to help improve on the Mountain Hawks’ sixth-place finish at the Patriot League Championships last season.
Coach Rob Herb on the Mountain Hawks: “This year’s men’s program is something special. From our upperclassman through every class, everyone will be contributing to the greater good. This is a group of hard-working and incredibly competitive athletes we're proud to represent Lehigh and show what they can achieve in a very competitive league.”
LOYOLA MARYLAND GREYHOUNDS
Head Coach: Brian Loeffler (34th season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 28/13
All-League Returnees: Second Team- Brennan Coyle, Joe Hayburn, Hans van Lierop
Loyola Maryland continued to close the point gap in the team standings last season, as the Greyhounds finished in third place at the Patriot League Championships for the second straight year under 34th-year head coach Brian Loeffler. The Greyhounds welcome back 28 letterwinners from a season ago, including a trio of All-Patriot League second-team honorees in Brennan Coyle, Joe Hayburn and Hans van Lierop.
Coach Brian Loeffler on the Greyhounds: “The men are excited to battle again for a strong Patriot League finish. Last season, the men placed third and closed the gap towards Army and Navy. Like the women, the men graduated a tremendous group of seniors. I expect many of the freshman to help fill those gaps so the men do not miss a beat.”
NAVY
Head Coach: Bill Roberts (23rd season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 28/11
All-League Returnees: First Team- Lachlan Andrew (2025) Finn Gelbach (2024), Ben Irwin (2024-25), Ben Mauldin (2025), Michael Phillips (2025), Benjamin Stankovich (2025), Zach Stump (2023);
Second Team- Gio Aquirre (2025), George Brooker III (2023), Finn Gelbach (2025), Gavin Green (2024), Dean Jones (2025), Juan Mora (2025), Luca Olivia (2025), Kellan Pattison (2025), Michael Phillips (2024), Anthony Sciulli (2023), Benjamin Stankovich (2024), Zach Stump (2024-25), Simon Thompson (2025)
Bill Roberts begins his 23rd season as head coach of Navy’s men’s swimming and diving program, looking to lead the Midshipmen to their 21st title in school history following last year’s runner-up finish. Navy returns 16 student-athletes who have earned All-League honors in their career, including junior Ben Irwin, the men’s highest point scorer at the 2025 Patriot League Championships.
Coach Bill Roberts on the Midshipmen: “We anticipate nothing less than another very exciting and competitive season in 2025-26. The league returns several athletes who were producing a lot of points for their respective programs. As a result, we understand that we are going to have to be far better all season long to be competitive with the best in the conference.”
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.