2022 Preview

Following the shortened 2021 season, the Mountaineers are set and ready for a successful second season in their new home, the Aquatic Center at Mylan Park.

Last season, WVU tallied a pair of program records at the 2021 Big 12 Championship, including the women’s 200 freestyle relay team notching second and PJ Lenz earning the school on platform. In total, the Mountaineers combined to earn 11 medals at the conference meet. The men’s team earned a second-place finish and the women’s squad finished fourth at Big 12’s. West Virginia returns three of those five NCAA Championships qualifiers from a year ago, including a two-time Big 12 individual champion and fifth-year swimmer David Dixon. The fifth-year earned Honorable Mention All-American honors last season, after finishing 12th in the 200 fly. Joining Dixon are divers Owen Johns and PJ Lenz. Behind the momentum from last season, West Virginia is looking ahead to 2021-22.

JACQUELINE MCCUTCHAN

VETERANS LEADING THE WAY For the fifth consecutive season, the Mountaineers are fortunate to have a double-digit member senior class. A total of 13 senior swimmers and divers (seven men, six women) are prepared to provide team leadership and set the tone both in and out of the pool. Dixon returns to the squad following his fourth consecutive NCAA bid in 2021, alongside fellow qualifier, divers PJ Lenz. Dixon earned Honorable Mention All-American honors and was recognized on the All-Big 12 First Team along with Lenz and Fausto Huerta in 2021, while Nick Cover and Max Gustafson received AllBig 12 Second Team honors. Josh Harlan and Josh Madzy round out the men’s senior class. On the women’s side, divers Camille Burt and Emma Longley return to Morgantown for their final seasons at WVU after successful performances at 2021 NCAA Zones A competition. Lauren Beckish, Abigail Riggs and Megan Zartman complete the women’s senior class.

In addition to a well-rounded senior class, WVU is fortunate to have talent in its junior and sophomore classes as well, including sophomores Justin Heimes, William Mullen and Brendan Williams who were all members of the All-Big 12 First Team. Sophomore

Abby Reardon, juniors Paige Dressel and Jacqueline McCutchan leads the pack for the women after collecting All-Big 12 Second Team honors in 2020-21. Several other members of these classes have swimming and diving experience at the conference meet, giving the Mountaineers an edge in postseason competition this year.

NEWCOMERS ON THE BLOCKS

AND BOARDS Seventeen newcomers from across the country and around the globe join coach Vic Riggs and his Mountaineer swimming and diving teams in Morgantown this season. With just one transfer student-athlete, 15 freshmen are set to begin their college careers at WVU.

“The incoming men’s and women’s classes are two of our strongest in recent years,” Riggs said. “The staff did a great job of identifying strong individuals and building those connections with them about WVU and our program. During the recruiting process, it became very apparent that they all share the same values of passion, integrity and commitment that we are looking for to improve our program.” Hannah Cech joins the swimming team from the University of Arkansas, while Ana Zortea joins the 2021-22 squad from Florida State. Morgan Burton, Miranda Kirtley, Emily Knorr, Sarah Krusinski and Mia Walters complete the freshman class on the women’s side. For the men, Hayden Apel, Riley Brown, Jason Bunn, Glenn Eloriaga, Zhenya Ingram, Reilly Keaney, Conner McBeth, Braden Osborn, Wesley Schauer and Jake Young are set to begin their collegiate careers this season. 2021-22 SCHEDULE

In their third season at the Aquatic Center at Mylan Park, the Mountaineers are eyeing a more normal season, compared to the shortened 2021 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021-22 slate consists of six home meets, including the

DAVID DIXON 2022 Big 12 championships. The fall campaign opens as the Mountaineers welcome teams across the state to the West Virginia State Games, October 8-9.

The following weekend, WVU plays host to Penn State for a twoday dual meet with the women’s team competing on Friday, Oct. 15, while the men’s squads will see action on Saturday, Oct. 16.

After a month-long hiatus, the Mountaineers host the second annual WVU Invitational, taking place from November 18-20. Five swimming and diving programs travel to Morgantown for the weekend meet, including Colgate, Old Dominion, St. Bonaventure, Villanova and William & Mary. Bowling Green and Toledo’s diving teams will also be in attendance.

West Virginia is set to ring in the new year with a home meet against rival Pitt on Monday, Jan. 17.

Thirteen senior Mountaineers will be recognized on Saturday, Jan. 22, as WVU closes out their seven-meet homestand, on Senior Day against Villanova and Iowa State (women only). Postseason action begins on Wednesday, Feb. 23, as the 2022 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championship comes to Morgantown for the second time in program history. Competition will conclude on the Saturday, Feb. 26, with the NCAA Last Chance Meet (women only) taking place on Sunday, Feb. 27. Up next will be the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships, hosted at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on March 7-9. The CSCAA National Invitational is tabbed for March 10-12, in Elkhart, Indiana. The 2022 NCAA Women’s Championships are scheduled for March 16-19, while the NCAA Men’s Championships are set for the following weekend, March 23-26. The championships will be held at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Ga.