ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College men's swimming and diving team is set to begin its quest for another Empire 8 championship on Saturday as the Bombers host Fredonia and The College at Brockport at the A&E Aquatics Pavilion. 

Ithaca, which won all 15 of its meets a season ago, will look to replace a strong senior class that saw three named All-Conference including two that would go on to be named All-American.  Despite the turnover on the roster, a strong incoming class along with a group of talented returners should have the Bombers poised to return to the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship.  

"This year's team will have a tough challenge matching the success of last year's undefeated season," said head coach Kevin Markwardt who enters the season having posted 350 wins in 34 years with the program.  "With the smallest squad in a decade and all our juniors studying abroad during the fall semester, our freshmen will have to step up quickly to keep the team competitive."

With the departure of several experienced divers from last season, Markwardt believes that while down, Ithaca will still be competitive in the deep end.

"With no returning divers, this year's team will look to freshman Scott Hillen to help fill the void left by conference record holder and All-American, Matt Morrison."

The Bombers will take part in 11 meets this season including nine events in the A&E Center.  After hosting a tri-meet on Saturday, Ithaca will head east to take on Rensselaer on Halloween before returning to Ithaca to host Cortland on November 7.
Two weeks later, Ithaca will host its second tri-meet of the season when Geneseo and Hartwick come to town on November 21.

After a short recess for Thanksgiving, Ithaca will return to the pool on December 4 for the annual Bomber Invitational as the Bombers host numerous teams from all over the region in one of the most competitive swimming and diving events of the season.
Markwardt's team will complete the road portion of the 2015-16 docket on January 16 when they return to Troy for the Henry Kumpf Invite hosted by R.P.I. before hosting Alfred on January 23.

Ithaca will close out its season with three straight meets on campus beginning with the Dick Comanzo Diving Invitational on January 24 followed by an individual meet with Union on January 30.  The Bombers will host the Ithaca Invitational two weeks later on February 13.

IC will cap the season in style, hosting the UNYSCSA Championships February 17-20 as teams from all over the state compete for the coveted title.  The Bombers finished second out of 15 schools last season marking the eight straight year that Ithaca has finished in the top-three.

"The team has some proven scorers returning this season in Aidan Hartswick, Addison Hebert and James Bowe," concluded Markwardt.  "If they can get some help from Vincent Dodero and Keith Dougherty, who were studying abroad last season, the team may find some success in a competitive competition schedule this season.