Courtesy: UNLV Athletics
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will dive back into action Wednesday against Cal Baptist at Jim Reitz Pool to begin the 2020-21 season. The women will be the first to enter the pool as they open the day’s events at 8:30 am, which will then be followed by the men’s races at 11:30 am. Fans can follow the action via live stream on the UNLV Athletics YouTube page.
UNLV’s women’s squad will be led this year by their returning group of Mountain West All-Conference performers from a year ago in Kate Afanasyeva, Carissa Armijo, Kacey Kiuchi and Kristina Schneider, while freshman Diana Neagu is expected to make an impact this season. On the diving side, the Rebels welcome back Josauli Lacuesta.
The Rebel men’s swimming crew, which posted a runner-up finish at last year’s WAC Championships, is headlined by All-American Panos Bolanos, Hayden Cornellison, Jack Binder, Ivan Zhukov, Michal Cukanow and Bryan Chavez. Senior Jesse Cawley represents the men’s team as the only returning diver.
“We are more than excited to be returning to head-to-head competition,” said head coach Ben Loorz. “It has been a long time since we’ve had the opportunity to race another team, and there is no substitute for that experience. It brings out the best in everyone, and we are grateful for this. We send a huge thank you to the whole UNLV Athletics team for all the incredibly hard work that has gone into creating this opportunity, and to the Rebel swimmers and divers for committing to do what is necessary to prepare.”
