ALFRED, NY -- There was plenty to like about the 2023-24 season for Alfred University's Men's Swimming and Diving program, with more to look forward to this time around. 

Led by head coach Brian Striker in his 23rd season, the Saxons have their sights set on succeeding at the pool. They finished on the podium at the Empire 8 Championships on three of the four meet days last season.

The team will be driven forward by Emiliano Terrazas (La Paz, Bolivia/Saint Andrew's) in his COVID-eligibility year coming off a All-Empire 8 second team appearance. William LaMastus (Maumee, OH/Anthony Wayne) also returns for his senior year after being honored on five different All-Empire 8 first teams, plus an additional second-team honor. He also was a team MVP from last season, and be part of leading eight new swimmers.

"The upper class student-athletes have done really well starting back in the recruiting process," Striker said "They've been very inclusive ever since before school started. It's good that the men have had recent successes, I think it feeds into the program. They want to achieve, and that kind of attitude and thought-process is morphing and evolving over the entire program."

Said recent success came last season at the Empire 8 Championships, with the 400-yard medley relay team taking home the win. They also won the 2022-23 Empire 8 Championship, and now aim for their second title in three years. 

The season doesn't start any tougher than against a nationally-ranked RIT team. It's a good test to see where the Saxons stand going into the year, which is certainly on the brighter side and on the up-and-up at the McLane Natatorium with a group of guys all at different levels ready to push one another to their best.

"So far this season they've worked harder and had better quality than we've had in many years," Striker said. "That is very exciting. Our test sets have been faster in comparison to previous years, and that is pretty awesome." 

The first meet of the 2024-25 campaign at RIT gets started at 5:00 pm on Friday, all leading up to the Empire 8 Championships where Alfred University looks to leave its mark from February 19 to February 22.