ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University men's swimming & diving team moves into a new era for the 2025-26 season. Even then, they still have a familiar face at the front of it in Head Coach Brian Striker '00.
Striker's 24th year at the helm will see him lead the Saxons onward from their third place finish at the Empire 8 championships last season. Even with several departing members, a strong set of returners will look to follow their lead after a good preseason.
"There's a big hole, and we have some solid upper-class students," Striker said. "It didn't take much to prod the team into gear, and once we put it all together, we'll be ready to go."
AU's only two seniors are also the captains and have stepped up. Keagen Winkky (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) and Tucker Jones (Fort Plain, NY/Fort Plain) will lead a crew including eight first-year members.
One of those first-year members includes some family ties to Alfred University, Calem Striker (Hornell, NY/Hornell). Son of Head Coach Striker, it brings some uniqueness and familiarity to the team.
"It's a two-fold thing, and his times from last year would put him in the top five of our group," Striker said. "He's been working and he's been around the team for his whole life. It was an easy transition and he's big for us with the best years ahead of him."
The reigning Empire 8 Rookie of the Year Carlos Gonzalez (Baja California, Mexico/Unifront) returns for his sophomore season at AU with more to prove. Gonzalez strutted his stuff as a freshman, breaking three school records along with two away pool records as the team's MVP.
Meanwhile, the diving board will see two men take center stage in Jordan Annlee (Henrietta, NY/Rush-Henrietta) and Jaxson McQuaid (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk). Together, they'll look to put some points on the board.
"Hopefully Jaxson will continue to progress," Striker said. "We don't have the depth in that event, but hopefully those two will do some damage."
AU will look to do their damage on the road, with eight events away from home and only three at the McLane Natatorium. Their first two will be at their home deck, starting against RIT on Friday night at 5:00 p.m.
They'll then host Roberts Wesleyan, then go on the road for eight straight events. Finally, one final home meet against Pitt-Bradford on January 24 sets their path to the Empire 8 Championships at the Webster Aquatic Center in mid-February.
-- Swords Forward Saxons --
