The Gannon University men's swimming and diving team is poised for a strong season in 2022-23, and head coach Jacqueline Michalski's athletes hope that leads to one destination.

"Their eyes are set on the NCAAs," said Michalski, whose team will open on Saturday when the Golden Knights compete in the Buffalo State Relay Meet along with the women's team. "We have our eyes set on having a group of men swimming all the way until March, which we have not seen in the past few years. So, we're very excited."
Gannon has a strong group of returnees, including several swimmers who have been involved in at least one school or pool record.

Among the leading returnees is junior Stephen McCallum (Cape Town, South Africa/Wynberg Boys'), a freestyle specialist who set the school record in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:38.88 at the Magnus Cup last season. He also was a part of record-setting 400-yard medley relay in 2020-21.

"The boys have put in some really good work over the summer," McCallum said. "Hopefully, with the help of the athletic staff, coaching staff, and the administration, we can put together conference-challenging side.

"Our first goal is always going to be to do the best we can at conference. … Beyond that, we always have hopes for the postseason. We're hoping to send a couple of guys to Indianapolis this season (for NCAAs)."




Sophomore Hiyan Kubagawa (Sao Paulo, Brazil/) returns after setting two school records at the Magnus Cup last season – the 100 breaststroke (56.76) and 200 individual medley (1:52.19).

Graduate student David Gallion (Arlington, Va./Homeschooled) returns for his fifth year with the team. He was also a water polo player for his first four years, but he is swimming exclusively this year and Michalski is eager to see what he can do with a full season. Gallion, who swims a variety of strokes, was also a member of the school-record setting 400 medley relay with McCallum in 2020-21.

Justin Decheck (Plum, Pa./Plum) is coming off a very strong 2021-22 PSAC Championships where he swam personal bests in six events. He also swam a leg on Gannon's pool-record 400 free relay in 2019-20.

In addition to a strong nucleus, the Golden Knights have a group of newcomers that Michalski thinks could be poised for success in their first seasons.

"We have a lot of great returners coming back to help us to continue to be successful," Michalski said, "and we also have a very strong freshman class that has come in from all over the country and all over the world."

There is excitement in the program about the offseason renovations that were made to the Knights' Carneval Athletic Pavilion Pool in the Gannon Recreation and Wellness Center. Many upgrades were made to the facility, which was unveiled to the public on Saturday at the team's Maroon and Gold Meet.

"It's incredible -- really it is," McCallum said of the renovated facility. "It has made such a difference to all of the athletes here, and I think the opportunity to be at home and to compete in front of our friends, our families, our staff at the university, I think it's going to be an incredible opportunity. I'm so excited to get going."

Gannon will host two meets at the Carneval Athletic Pavilion Pool on December 3 against Indiana (PA) and against Edinboro on January 20. Michalski and her athletes are thrilled about hosting swim meets again.

"We're very excited that the university and the athletic department believe in us enough to give us upgrades to our facility," Michalski said.

Saturday's opener at Buffalo State will be a relay meet that will also feature coed relays.

 
MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING FACTS
 
Head coach: Jacqueline Michalski, fourth season

Assistants: Katie Cowan, Diane MacWilliams, Brynn Driscoll

Season opener: At Buffalo State Relay Meet, Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
Home opener: vs. IUP, Carneval Athletic Pavilion Pool, Dec. 3 at noon
 
PSAC Championships: At York, Feb. 15-18

 
Top returnees:
 
S. McCallum, freestyle, junior
 
D. Gallion, butterfly, individual medley, graduate student
 
H. Kubagawa, breaststroke, individual medley, butterfly, sophomore
 
Ju. Decheck, butterfly, individual medley, backstroke, senior

 
Newcomers to watch: 

Sophomore Aidar Sataev (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan/Forest Hill), breaststroke
 
Freshman Malachi Boyle (Knoxville, Tn./Home Life Academy), freestyle, breaststroke
 
Freshman Kaleb Lombard (Graaff-Reinet, South Africa/Grey College), backstroke, butterfly, individual medley
 
Freshman Will Retsch (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton), breaststroke, individual medley
 
Freshman Max Campbell (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Preparatory), diver