Oberlin, Ohio - Coming off an impressive 2023-24 season that featured a pair of fifth-place finishes at the North Coast Athletic Conference Championships, the Oberlin College men's and women's swimming and diving teams have their sights set even higher this season. 

Headlined by a strong senior class, the men's side should contend for a top-three finish with multiple athletes eyeing national bids. At the same time, the women's team boasts a strong blend of experience and youth ready to break into the top half of the conference standings. 

"We are looking forward to a strong season led by a great senior class," 2024 NCAC Men's Coach of the Year Alex de la Pena said. "They helped create a strong team culture that will translate to success for not just their class but all of the underclassmen who are ready to step up as well. We do have goals of sending athletes to nationals and moving up in the conference standings, but the most important thing for us to remember is competitive swimming and great diving stems from being a part of a great team environment where teammates show up and support each other every day."

Senior co-captains Erik Fendorf and Myles Felt will share those duties with junior Julian Walls as the trio tries to guide the Yeomen into a bronze finish at the conference meet. The school record holder in the 50-yard free (20.48), 100-yard free (44.88), and 100-yard butterfly (48.66), Fendorf is also a part of four relay records and is training hard to end his career with a nationals appearance after earning All-NCAC honors in four different events a season ago. Felt owns Oberlin's record in the 100-yard back (50.17) and is part of five relay records, while Walls looks to be a key contributor to the distance events.

Oberlin's distance duo of sophomore Chahine Said and junior Miguel Siwady each have the ability to earn a nationals berth as Said finished just one spot out a season ago in the 1,650 with his school-record time of 15:44.36. The second-year standout also set the school record in the 1,000 (9:31.94) last winter. Siwady owns top-four times in program history in seven different events and is part of the 800-yard freestyle relay unit that has Oberlin's record at 6:58.9. 

Senior Isaac Viviano has been a consistent force throughout his career, setting the school record in the 100-yard breast (56.56) and will be aiming to take the top spot in the 200-yard breast this year as his personal-best time of 2:05.96 is just over half a second behind the record. The Plainwell, Michigan, native is also a part of the record-setting 200 - and 400-yard medley relay units. 

James Moll, who ranks second all-time in the 200-yard back (1:52.06) and third in the 100-yard back (52.10) is part of the 400-yard free relay record-setting foursome that clocked in at 3:06.78 and the 200 free relay record (1:23.75) The sophomore from Lititz, Pennsylvania, will have a big role in medley races and is expected to produce plenty of points come conference championship time. Junior record holder Leo Powers will be key to Oberlin's medley success as he looks to build off his school record time of 52.95 in the 100-yard medley while also contributing to butterfly and relay events. 

First-years John Polylogidis and Zachary Black come in with the ability to compete right away in the sprint freestyle events with Polylogidis also adding to the butterfly unit and Black having an opportunity to contribute in the breaststroke and medley events. 

Seniors Elinor Frost, Averey Johnson, and Lucy Lee will captain a women's team that continues to get better each and every year. Frost has earned 15 all-time top-10 times in her career, including school records in both 200-yard free relay (1:38.25) and 200-yard medley relay (1:49.29). 

Classmate Ava Peyton could be in line for her best season yet and has the skill set to potentially set school records in the 100-yard back and 100-yard IM. The Menlo Park, California, native is a member of the record-setting 200-yard medley relay (1:49.29). 

One of eight seniors, Isabel Pfaff will be a key to the team's success in the free and fly events. A native of East Lexington, Virginia, she is part of the record-setting 200-yard free relay (1:38.25) and is sixth all-time in the 50-yard free (24.59). Along with Pfaff, junior Nyrobi Whitfield could be in store for a breakout season in the free and fly events. 

Second-year Gretchen Lotter is also expected to make a big jump in the medley and freestyle events. 

The first-year grouping of Hailey Hamilton (back/IM), Kendall McKelvey (free/fly), and Soomin Yoo (breast/free) headline a seven-person rookie class that will continue to improve throughout the season. 

Oberlin will get additional senior leadership from Ronen Baron, Emily Bergin, Bridget Duquette, and Charlotte Hantus. 

New diving coach Emma Burns has also been hard at work developing sophomore Faye Huffman, who was 10th last year in the 1-meter event, along with fellow second-year Sebastian Lagasse.

Oberlin will open its season Sunday, October 13, when it plays host to its annual early season invitational. The conference championships are set for February 12-15, 2025 in Granville, Ohio. 

Fans will be able to watch all home meets on the Oberlin Sports Network and follow live results on goyeo.com.