Chris Carlini '16 has been a part of the SUNY Potsdam swimming and diving program since he arrived on campus as a freshman in 2012. He rose to serve as captain as a senior and returned as assistant coach in 2017. With the retirement of long time Bears head coach Ken McLaughlin following the 2019-20 season, Carlini stepped into the role as interim head coach. He guided the program through a pandemic season last year that didn't see any formal competition and is now energized for his first full campaign at the helm of the program. He brings appreciation, enthusiasm and a love of SUNY Potsdam into his new position.
 
"It feels like a dream come true," said Carlini about his ascension to the program's top spot. "I never really thought I was going to swim in college to begin with. Then to end up in charge of the program that's given me everything I could have needed has been awesome. It makes selling Potsdam so easy because, I'm never just giving a sales pitch. I love this place. To be here now, I couldn't be more excited."
 
Carlini looks to continue certain aspects of his mentor McLaughlin's system, while putting his own touches on the program.
 
"We're sticking with Ken's style of workouts and orientation of the swimming that will actually be done in the competitions," Carlini said. "It'll be almost exactly the same. Obviously Ken's resume spoke for itself, with him being an All-American and an Olympian. So why bother changing that training technique. In terms of what I will be implementing, we'll be a lot busier in the weight room. We'll be working a lot harder on dry land exercises. The biggest thing that I'm pushing is a culture change for the program. We're a young and hungry. We're looking for this year, next year and the next few years to be the new wave of Potsdam swimming."
 
Carlini said his team will focus a lot on competitive mentality this season, which will translate into performance.
 
"After not having a season last year, this year we're really focused on moving forward with a positive energy and controlling what we can control,"Carlini said. "There is a lot of excitement in the program. While success will come, I'm really looking for the swimmers, especially the upperclassmen, to lay the brick in the groundwork for what we're going to be doing over the next few years."
 
This this season, Carlini's staff will consist of first year assistant Nolan Graziano and veteran diving coach and Bears Hall of Famer Nathan LaRowe '10. Potsdam has a solid core of upperclassmen to captain his program this season. Seniors Jake McCormack (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Poughkeepsie), Andrew McEwen (Macedon, N.Y./Palmyra-Macedon) and Brett Worden (Croghan, N.Y./Beaver River) will lead the men. Graduate student Emily Pitz (Lagrangeville, N.Y./Millbrook), senior Brianna Iverson (Antwerp, N.Y./Indian River) and junior Sophia Frenyea (Johnstown, N.Y./Johnstown) will serve as captains for the women.
 
The Bears return four swimmers to the women's team with six newcomers. Seven of the 11 members of the men's team are returnees. With experience comes expectations.
 
Men
"For the men's team, our biggest returner that we were lucky to get back for a fifth year is all-conference member senior Ryan Hagadorn (Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee)," said Carlini. "He's gunning for the school's 100 Breaststroke record and I think if he really puts his mind to it, he can have an undefeated season in dual meet competition. We're also returning our top freestyle sprinter in Andrew McEwen. He helps out in the Butterfly events. Jake McCormack is our top returning backstroker. Brett Worden is back to be our top IM-er. He's gunning for the school 400 IM record."
 
Three other men return for the Bears in seniors Davin Butler (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) (FLY/IM) and Nate Young (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) (BK/FR) and junior Daniel Russotti (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) (BR/IM).
 
"In terms of newcomers on the men's team, we have freshman Ryan Orcutt (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia). He's an extremely versatile freestyle and butterfly sprinter. I'm expecting him to make an immediate impact, if not be top-eight on the podium this year. Freshman Finn Boyle (Lynbrook, N.Y./Lynbrook) is another freestyle sprinter who's shaping up to be a pleasant surprise. He might have been a needle in the haystack find for us."
 
Junior Jacob Bobson (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y./Ardsley) (FR/FLY) and senior Abu Huraira (Queens, N.Y./Queens High School of Teaching) (FR) are new to the team this season.
 
Women
"Emily Pitz is back for the women. She has two school records up on the board and was fifth in the conference in the 200 FLY. It's really huge to have her leadership back. Junior Zoe Gliganic (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville) was 12th in the conference in diving as a freshman two years ago and will build on that. Sophia Frenyea is looking to step up and take over the breaststroke duties. Brianna Iverson is also back to be our backstroker this year."
 
"Among the women's newcomers, we have sophomore Kenzie Cerny (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Shenendehowa) from Shenendehowa who just transferred in from Plattsburgh. I'm expecting her to pick and choose which distance freestyle records she's going to break this year. She's off to a huge start. She comes from a monster high school program and I think she's really hungry. Freshman Emily Mullin (Gouverneur, N.Y./Gouverneur) is a sprint freestyler from Gouverneur and will definitely be a huge contributor. Freshman Alexis Hartmann (Farmingville, N.Y./Sachem East) is another strong addition the group of top end swimmers."
 
Three other newcomers join the women this year. Freshman Liz Combs (Islandia, N.Y./Hauppauge) will bolster the diving ranks, while classmates Danielle LaCroix (Carthage, N.Y./Carthage) (FR) and Sasha Truax (New Lebanon, N.Y./New Lebanon) (FR/BK) give the swimmers more depth.
 
Schedule
COVID prevented the Bears from opening up two weeks ago, but they are fired up to kick off the season tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. when they host the College at Brockport. On Sunday they head to Saratoga Springs to make up their postponed meet with Skidmore College at 1 p.m. Next week, Potsdam hosts its annual North Country Invitational on Nov. 19-20. The Bears close out the semester at the Cortland Invitational on Dec. 3-4. They open the second semester at home against Saint Michael's College on Jan. 15. Potsdam then hosts St. Lawrence University on Jan. 21, before heading across town to face Clarkson University the next day. The Bears wrap up the regular season with a meet at Oswego State on Jan. 29. The SUNYAC Championships take place in Buffalo from Feb. 16-19.
 
Carlini and his swimmers are more than ready to begin a season that they've been waiting for 22 months to commence.
 
"It's definitely an exciting time for the program," Carlini said. "When the conference meet comes around at the end of the year, definitely look for Potsdam to be improved."
 
Tomorrow's meet will be streamed live on potsdambears.com.