FREDONIA, N.Y. – The Fredonia men's swimming and diving team kicks off the 2015-16 season Saturday at Allegheny College with its earliest contest in recent memory.

"I want to see good technique and smart performances," head coach Arthur Wang said of Saturday's season-opener in Meadville, Pa. "I want to see them do the small things well, both swimmers and divers. Outcome is secondary to that."
 
The Blue Devils have high hopes this year with the return of three all-conference athletes covering six events: junior Adam Clouthier (Fairport, N.Y. / Fairport),  the 2015 SUNYAC Champion in both the 100- and 200-yard breast stroke; and a pair of divers – junior Arron Carlson (LeRoy, N.Y. / Notre Dame) and senior Rafael Santiago (Middletown, N.Y. / Middletown). Each garnered 2015 All SUNYAC Second Team honors off the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards..

Of Clouthier, Wang expects further improvement. "I hope he builds upon last year," the coach said. "He missed the middle portion of the season and may not have been at full strength at the end of the year. He could have been even faster at the championships."
 
Fredonia divers are routinely at the top of the SUNYAC standings, although last season's SUNYAC honors went to a Geneseo diver.  He was outscored by Carlson at the NCAA meet. Carlson was recently included on the D3Swimming.com Pre-Season All American Team.

Meanwhile, Santiago qualified for zones, only to barely miss out on a trip to the national meet..
 
Also, junior diver Jacob Storms (Owego, N.Y. / Owego) finished seventh in the 3-meter and ninth in the 1-meter at the 2015 SUNYAC meet.

Aside from Santiago, Will Baker (East Amherst, N.Y. / Williamsville North) is the only other senior on the roster. Baker has consistently been the team's top freestyler each of the last three seasons. He finished fifth in both the 100-yard and 200-yard freestyle events at last February's SUNYAC meet.
 
Among the junior class:
 
Liam Jones (Buffalo, N.Y. / Kenmore East) earned points at the 2014 SUNYAC meet, finishing fifth in the 100-yard butterfly. After a one-year hiatus, he is likely to participate in the butterfly and individual medley this season. Troy Lubanski (Leicester, N.Y. / York) was sixth in the 200-yard backstroke and seventh in the IM last season. Mark McGraw (Jamestown, N.Y. / Jamestown) is a Jamestown Community College transfer.

Wang feels each of the six sophomores have the potential to be SUNYAC point-scorers in 2016. Among them:

Bill Bradley (Dunkirk, N.Y. / Dunkirk) is the most improved swimmer, according to his coach. Graham Jones (Buffalo, N.Y. / Kenmore East) was eighth in the 1,650-yard free last year. Wang believes Nathan Link (Grand Island, N.Y. / Grand Island) could finish in the Top 10 in distance/freestyle events. Ben Chatley (Sanborn, N.Y. / Starpoint) transferred from Brockport and will swim in the distance events. David Carls (Allegany, N.Y. / Allegany-Limestone) is new to the team this year. Diver Phil Tubbs (Jamestown, N.Y. / Jamestown) is another JCC transfer.

There are two freshmen this year. Wang said Jake Favret (Watertown, N.Y. / Watertown), who stands 6' 4", is full of raw ability and should improve as he adjusts to the college program,. Jonah Adeson (Queensbury, N.Y. / Queensbury) has already impressed the coach with his work ethic and his endurance. Adeson has participated in triathlons.

Wang envisions his team in the top half of the 2016 SUNYAC standings. "We may be a little less talented at the top," he said, "but we have more depth where everyone will contribute."