BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 2026-27 Patriot League men’s swimming and diving season begins this weekend, with all 10 programs competing by October.
Navy, which will serve as host of the 2027 Patriot League Men’s Swimming & Diving Championship, will look to repeat after securing its 21st title in program history a season ago. The Midshipmen return several All-League honorees, including 2026 Men’s Diver of the Meet Finn Gelbach, 2026 Men’s Rookie of the Meet Chase Maier and two-time Men’s Highest Point Scorer Ben Irwin (2024, 2025).
Army West Point finished as the runner-up last season after winning the title in 2025, as the Black Knights are now under the direction of first-year head coach Scott Thacker. Two-time Men’s Swimmer of the Meet Johnny Crush looks to lead Army West Point back to the top of the League as the Black Knights welcome back four All-League performers.
The 2027 Patriot League Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships are set to take place on Wednesday, February 17 through Saturday, February 20 at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium in Lewisburg, Pa.
AMERICAN EAGLES
Head Coach: Garland Bartlett (6th season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 18/8
All-League Returnees: None
Under sixth-year head coach Garland Bartlett, American returns 18 letterwinners from last year’s team and welcomes four newcomers. Sophomore Alex Way and junior Luke Martens will look to guide the Eagles headed into the 2026-27 season.
ARMY WEST POINT BLACK KNIGHTS
Head Coach: Scott Thacker (1st season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 30/15
All-League Returnees: First Team: Johnny Crush, Kalvin Hahn; Second Team: Thomas Hadji, Remo Mann
Following a runner-up finish a season ago at the Patriot League Championships, Army West Point looks to reclaim the title as the Black Knights turn to new leadership with Scott Thacker taking over the head coach role. Led by two-time Men’s Swimmer of the Meet and First Team All-American Johnny Crush, the Black Knights return a trio of All-League performers; Kalvin Hahn, Thomas Hadji and Remo Mann. At last year’s NCAA Division I Championships, Crush recorded a fifth-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke with a program record time of 43.84 to earn All-American honors.
BOSTON UNIVERSITY TERRIERS
Head Coach: James Sica (4th season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 17/3
All-League Returnees: Second Team: Giovanni Sullo, Charlie Nenchev
Head coach Jame Sica begins his fourth season leading the Boston University men’s swimming and diving program. The Terriers welcome back 17 letterwinners from last year’s squad that finished fourth at the Patriot League Championships. Led by Second Team All-League honorees Giovanni Sullo and Charlie Nenchev, Boston University will also turn to Henry Dvorak and Zein Mahana for another strong season.
BUCKNELL BISON
Head Coach: Josh Huger (1st season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 18/11
All-League Returnees: None
The Bucknell men’s swimming and diving program will turn to new leadership following the departure of long-time head coach Dan Schinnerer as Josh Huger takes over the reins. The Bison return 18 letterwinners from last year’s squad that finished fifth at the Patriot League Championships, including senior James Lombardi as well as sophomores Drew Davis and Jason Kellerman.
COLGATE RAIDERS
Head Coach: Ed Pretre (8th season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 15/8
All-League Returnees: None
Eighth-year head coach Ed Pretre welcomes back 15 letterwinners from last year’s squad that totaled 345 points at the Patriot League Championships. Junior Michael Granin, sophomore David Brophy and classmate Nick Pompo lead the Colgate men’s swimming and diving team into the 2026-27 season.
HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS
Head Coach: Kristy Jones (5th season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 17/9
All-League Returnees: None
Holy Cross returns 17 letterwinners from last year’s unit and is under the direction of fifth-year head coach Kristy Jones. Despite the loss of First Team All-Patriot League performer Jack Greiner, a senior trio of Luke Parada, Will Clark and Austin Cutcher, as well as sophomore Andrew Villani, will lead the Crusaders into the 2026-27 season.
LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS
Head Coach: Mike Rinde (1st season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 26/3
All-League Returnees: None
The Lafayette men’s swimming and diving program turns to new leadership following the retirement of long-time head coach Jim Dailey, as assistant coach Mike Rinde takes over the helm. The Leopards will look to build off a record-setting 2025-26 season as they will be led by seniors Alex Reihl, Trey Telleen, Landon Orth and Alex Zoldan. Sophomores Justin Tucker, Trevor Olson, Auggie Sefcik and Greg Yukhvid figure to have an impact for Lafayette.
LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS
Head Coach: Rob Herb (23rd season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 23/4
All-League Returnees: Second Team: Jack Deppe
With the return of 23 letterwinners from a season ago, Lehigh looks to improve on its sixth-place finish at the 2026 Patriot League Championships. The Mountain Hawks will be led by 23rd-year head coach Rob Herb.
LOYOLA MARYLAND GREYHOUNDS
Head Coach: Brian Loeffler (35th season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 33/9
All-League Returnees: First Team: Joe Hayburn; Second Team: Brennan Coyle, Luke Dwyer, JD Moyer
Loyola Maryland had another strong showing at last year’s Patriot League Championships under 35th-year head coach Brian Loeffler as the Greyhounds finished third for the third straight year with 1,061 points. Led by Joe Hayburn, who earned First Team All-Patriot League honors and qualified for the NCAA Division I Championships, the Greyhounds return 33 letterwinners, including Second Team All-Patriot Leaguers Brennan Coyle, Luke Dwyer and JD Moyer.
NAVY
Head Coach: Bill Roberts (24th season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 31/10
All-League Returnees: First Team: Finn Gelbach, Ben Irwin, Dean Jones, Tyler Kaminski, Chase Maier, Ben Mauldin, Martin Perecinsky, Xavier Sohovich, Coleman Yates; Second Team: Lachlan Andrew, Will Jones, Preston Kessler, Juan Mora, Luke Ogren, Luca Oliva
Bill Roberts enters his 24th season at the helm of Navy’s men’s swimming and diving program, looking to lead the Midshipmen to their 22nd title in school history following last year’s return to the top of the Patriot League with 1,793 points. Navy returns 15 student-athletes who earned All-League honors in their career, including senior Finn Gelbach, the 2024 and 2026 Men’s Diver of the Meet, and sophomore Chase Maier, the 2026 Men’s Rookie of the Meet.
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.