WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Wilkes University men's and women's swimming and diving teams are set to begin their 2025-26 campaign on Saturday under direction of first year coach, Arthur Wang. The new season welcomes eleven first-years across both teams as well as adding a diver to the roster for the first time in program history. 

This year marks the teams' third year in the Landmark Conference where the men's team came off a hot season, going 8-2 overall and 4-0 in conference while the women's team finished 3-6-1 overall and 1-2-1 in conference.

"The team is excited to finally have some competition," Wang says about the upcoming season.  

Wilkes welcomes back seven swimmers to the men's team. Ashton Dainty (Scranton, PA/Scranton), the lone senior, juniors Owen Lewis (Ellicott City, MD/Howard) and Luke Donato (Westerly, RI/Westerly), and sophomores Leo Miller (Oak Forest, IL/Oak Forest), Caleb Keener (Shrewsbury, PA/Susquehannock), Jacob Piotrowski (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge), and Alton Smargiassi (Bloomsburg, PA/Central Columbia) round out the returning squad. 

"Dilligant and Committed" Wang said to describe the men's team. "They're used to a different kind of training… we're going to work hard." 

The men's team added eight first-years to the roster including Jack DeLuca (Easton, PA/Moravian Academy) (freestyle/breastroke), DJ Hammond (Stone Mountain, GA/Stephenson) (freestyle/butterfly), Max Johnson (Clarksburg, MD/Clarksburg) (distance/butterfly), Josh Leonard (Athens, PA/Athens Area) (butterfly), Joshua Robinson (Richmond, VA/St. Christopher's) (IM/breaststroke), Brady Rushton (Nanticoke, PA/Greater Nanticoke Area) (freestyle/breaststroke), Maximilian Wilson (Manassas, VA/Seton) (freestyle/backstroke), and Tobias Misinay (Russell, KY/Pulaski County) (Freestyle/IM). 

On the women's side, the Colonels also return seven swimmers. Pearl Hunter (York, PA/Northeastern) swims for the senior class while Emma Burlew (Effort, PA/Pleasant Valley) and Brynn Ullerich (Omaha, NE/Marian) represent the juniors, and the sophomores include Izzy Sapraco, Meghan Sandt (Easton, PA/Easton Area), Lea McCormick (Northumberland, PA/Shiekellamy), and Grace Cobb (Athens, PA/Athens Area).

This season, Wang plans to work with the women to "expand their horizons in event versatility" in hopes to give them a "chance to win some championship."

The women's team recruited three additions to the team including Harper Wentzel (Souderton, PA/Souderton Area) (backstroke/freestyle), Alyssa Rounsaville (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) (backstroke/freestyle), and Emma Miller (Wyoming, PA/Dallas) (diving)

"(We're) excited to watch (her) get on the boards for us," Wang said, as Miller becomes the first diver in program history.

The Colonels kick off their 2025-26 season on Oct. 11 as they travel to Scranton for a tri-match against Marywood University and King's College (Pa.)  at 11:00a.m.

"I'd like to see a clean performance…and just see where they are" when asked about the first swim meet of the season.

Wilkes concludes their season at the Landmark Conference Swimming & Diving Championships at the Mangione Aquatic Center in Baltimore, Md. from February 12 to February 15.