ERIE, Pa. — During the long grind of a swimming season, alone in the water, it can be tough to view the big picture.
 
That's why new Gannon coach Jacqueline Michalski started her teams out by looking at the big picture first as the 2019-20 season drew near, and when the new year kicks off Saturday, just five months before the NCAA Championships, they'll have a vision in place.
 
"I think the expectation for this year is to come together, as we've started to do," Michalski said. "But it's also to challenge them to think well beyond what they thought had been possible before. There's a lot of excitement around this program, and we want them to know that they can take it to another level."
 
Headlining the returners for the Golden Knights is Brent Benedict (Corry, Pa./Corry), who capped his first year in Erie with a pair of All-America finishes at the NCAA Championships in March. Combined between the men and women, all five individuals — Benedict, Robert Bolmanski (Erie, Pa./McDowell), Jon Ekas (Erie, Pa./McDowell), David Gallion (Arlington, Va./Homeschooled) and Silvija Taraska (Wickliffe, Ohio/Lake Catholic) — who recorded a top-five finish at the PSAC Championships return, as do at least three members of Gannon's eight relay teams who placed top-four.
 
That plus some promising newcomers has the group setting some lofty goals, including looking to have more than one be competing on the final weekend of the year.
 
"I want them to be able to finish with their best times," Michalski said. "I think that everyone is set on swimming their fastest at the end of the season. I think a lot of them have their eyes set on the national level too, and I'm excited to be able to work with them and develop them and get them to that level."
 
ROSTER BREAKDOWN (Men)
Returners: Brent Benedict (Corry, Pa./Corry), Sr.; Robert Bolmanski (Erie, Pa./McDowell), So.; Joe Campbell (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep), So.; Joey Deemer (Connoquenessing, Pa./Butler Area), Jr.; Clark Eason (Warren, Pa./Warren Area), Sr.; Bryce Ebel (Summerville, Ore./La Grande), Sr.; Jon Ekas (Erie, Pa./McDowell), Sr.; Luke Engel (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore), Jr.; Zachary Galla (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep), Jr., David Gallion (Arlington, Va./Homeschooled), So.; Justin Haffner (Media, Pa./Penncrest), So.; Andrew Mahoney (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills), So.; Thomas Marshall (Geneseo, N.Y./Geneseo), Sr.; Matt Wegley (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep), So.; Zachary Werstler (Massillon, Ohio/Jackson), Jr.
 
Newcomers: Andrew Beyer (Warren, Pa./Warren Area), Fr.; Masen Collins (/), Fr.; Justin Decheck (Plum Borough, Pa./Plum Senior), Fr.; Alexander Deemer (/), Fr.; Seth Johnson (Sugar Hill, Ga./Lanier), Fr.; Donald Paracca (/), Fr.; Kollin Schwab (/), Fr.
 
Coach Speak: "The men have a lot of leadership. We have a strong senior class, not only personality wise, but also in the pool. The younger men have really learned from them and grown and developed, and I'm looking forward to see that in action as the season progresses."
 
ROSTER BREAKDOWN (Women)
Returners: Allison Ahl (Corry, Pa./Corry Area), So.; Cassidy Burns (Fairview, Pa./Fairview), So.; Brynn Driscoll (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Bradley), Jr.; Amanda Geci (Kersey, Pa./Elk County Catholic), So.; Celia Kottakis (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence), Jr.; Leilani Kunf (White Oak, Pa./McKeesport Area), So.; Rory Lingg (Murrysville, Pa./Homeschool), Jr.; Brittany Miller (Cleveland, Ohio/Saint Joseph Academy), So.; Kiersten Pearce (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Area), Jr.; Jillian Pritchard (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin), Sr.; Amanda Puthoff (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mount Notre Dame), Sr.; Sammie Schmitz (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central), Sr.; Marissa Scott (Owego, N.Y./Owego Free Academy), Sr.; Zoe Snyder (Girard, Pa./Girard), So.; Lilija Taraska (Wickliffe, Ohio/Lake Catholic), Jr.; Silvija Taraska (Wickliffe, Ohio/Lake Catholic), Jr.; Sydney Usher (Crofton, Md./South River), Jr.
 
Newcomers: Molly Allard (Macomb, Mich./L'Anse Creuse), Fr.; Reilly Yonkers (/), Fr.; Sammie Young (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview), Fr.
 
Coach Speak: "There's been a lot of coming out of their shells for the women. I think they're embracing having two female coaches, and have really learned to speak their mind and to open up and to trust each other. I think that's going to be huge in our development and help us move forward in the PSAC."