ALFRED, NY -- As the days have gotten cooler, the pool has only gotten warmer at Alfred University for the women's swimming and diving program.

At the helm of it all is head coach Brian Striker, entering his 23rd season of coaching the Saxons. For him, it's been one of the most unique and exciting seasons waiting to get underway after a good run to end the 2023-24 season.

"We have a few top Empire-8 level swimmers returning," Striker said. "We also have two new swimmers, Isobel Anderegg and Elizabeth Share, who I think will break several school records, if not right away, certainly sometime this season. That is the hope anyway. I think for the women it's exciting to start piecing together a roster that will compete."

Aside from the two new faces, there will be an additional six joining them on the deck for eight new swimmers on the women's side. Just a couple of those Empire-8 level swimmers returning are Kamila Roman (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) and Sarah Anderson (Wayne, PA/Radnor). Roman won the 100-yard butterfly on the penultimate day of the Empire 8 Championships last spring, earning her a spot on the All-Empire 8 first team, alongside a second team Empire-8 appearance for the 200-yard medley relay. Anderson was a part of four All-Empire 8 second teams and was a team MVP last season, now heading into her senior year. 

While finishing the 2023-24 campaign at 2-6, Striker and his coaching staff found lots to like outside of the results. The comradery of teamwork and building up as one led to a successful Empire 8 Championship performances and build momentum into this season. With a complete crew, the Saxons look to make some noise.

"We're striving to break through that wall in front of us and get to that next level," Striker said. "It's easy to say after 23 years, but it truly is something I'm seeing with my own eyes right now. But it's making changes and we work hard to make our deck presence and culture competitive, inclusive, and fun and that seems to be working."

With their first match-up against a nationally-recognized RIT program this Friday, there's no better place to start grabbing some attention. The season will roll on up until the Empire 8 Championships, spanning four days from February 19-22.  

-- Swords Forward Saxons --