LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Texas A&M swimming and diving teams will open the 2015-16 season with a 2 p.m. dual meet against Southeastern Conference opponent Kentucky on Wednesday at the Lancaster Aquatic Center.
Both Texas A&M squads go into the new season with high expectations after strong efforts in the 2014-15 season. The Aggie women, who are coached by Steve Bultman, are coming off their third straight fourth-place NCAA finish and a runner-up finish at the 2015 SEC Championships, while the A&M men, coached by Jay Holmes, were eighth at SECs and 38th at the NCAA Championships.
The women’s squad returns an impressive 26 letterwinners, including 2015 SEC 100 butterfly champion Béryl Gastaldello. The 2015 SEC Freshman of the Year, Gastaldello set school records in the 50 free and and 100 fly. The Aggies return 10 swimmers that earned All-America mention in 2015 – Bethany Galat, Gastaldello, Sarah Gibson, Kristin Malone, Ashley McGregor, Meredith Oliver, Lisa Bratton, Franko Jonker, Sycerika McMahon and Laura Norman. Earning zone diving cuts were Madison Hudkins and Destine’e O’Neal.
The men’s team returns 22 lettermen from last year’s squad, including 11 swimmers that achieved an NCAA “B” qualifying cut and three divers that advanced to the NCAA zone championships. Also returning are a pair of sophomores that broke school records in their first seasons – Brock Bonetti in the 200 backstroke and Mauro Castillo in the 200 breaststroke. Returnees with 2015 “B” cuts include Bonetti and Castillo along with Jacob Gonzales, Antoine Marc, Hunter Funk, Mateo Muzek, Turker Ayar, Jacob Wallace, Alexandros Theocharidis, Jonathan Tybur and Gonzalo Carazo. Returning divers with zone experience include sophomore captain Tyler Henschel, Colton Haffey and Zach Stockton.
Swimming news courtesy of Texas A&M Swimming & Diving.
