POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam swimming and diving teams opens their 2025-26 season at the Cortland Relays this Saturday at 1 p.m. The Bears enter their second season with head coach Emily Murray and assistant Jeremy LaClaire '21 at the helm.
 
With a year under her belt, Murray is ready to hit the ground running in year two.
 
"Last year was about learning - with the team, with the pace, and with the challenges of a new program," Murray said. "This year, I'm coming in with much more clarity. I know these athletes now. I have a clearer picture of both our strengths and the areas we can keep improving. This season I can be very intentional in how we train, how we communicate, and what we ask of the team. It lets me build on what we started rather than reinventing every piece."
 
Last season, Murray's goals included culture building, getting to know her athletes and helping them grow. She feels good about what has already been accomplished.
 
"I saw the team grow a lot over the season, not just in the pool, but in how they supported each other and held themselves accountable," said Murray. "We built a strong culture of trust, and now it feels like we can take the next step together."
 
Murray's goals for this year are a mix of old and new.
 
"This season, I want to keep strengthening the culture we've built while pushing the team to grow in and out of the pool," Murray said. "We're aiming to be more competitive, both within our conference and against ourselves every day in training. Last season we had 84 percent of our swims at conference be season or lifetime bests, with 13 swims placing in the top 16. That was a big step forward, and I'm excited to carry that momentum into this year."
 
Murray has a group of experienced captains to lean on again this season, to help guide the team forward.
 
"We've selected (senior) Zach DeLorme (Rochester, N.Y./Irondequoit), (senior) Kathryn Nelson (Riverside, R.I./St. Mary Academy – Bay View), (sophomore) Amelia Bohr (Unionville, N.Y./Minisink Valley) and (sophomore) Katherine Steeves (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) as our captains," said Murray. "Each of them has already earned respect in the pool and among their teammates. They work hard in the pool and lead by example. I'm excited to see how they guide us this season."
 
Murray and her athletes are more than ready for the campaign to begin.
 
"I'm really excited about the group we've got this year," Murray said. "Our returners bring a lot of experience, and the newcomers have added great energy. We've had a strong preseason, and with the work we've already put in, I think we're set up for a really fun and memorable season."
 
The Bears return six women and six men for the 2025-26 season. They add six women and two men to the roster.
 
Steeves was a SUNYAC A Finalist in the 200 Individual Medley and the 100 Butterfly in February. Nelson, the women's lone senior, will focus on distance again this season. Juniors Nataelee Mullen (Canandaigua, N.Y./Canandaigua) (Freestyle/Butterfly) and Madison Mitchell (Canton, N.Y./Hugh C. Williams) (Sprint Freestyle) are also back. Bohr and Brooke Seaver (Syracuse, N.Y./Liverpool) (Backstroke) join Steeves as the returning sophomores.
 
Juniors Leah-Kristine Hunt (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown) (Breaststroke), Leo Plaza (Hudson, N.Y./Taconic Hills) (Freestyle/Butterfly) and Allie Shoen (Owego, N.Y./Owego) (Freestyle) are the new upper classmen. Freshman Delaynie Jessie (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) (Freestyle/Breaststroke), Julie Lamantia (Binghamton, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) (Freestyle/Backstroke) and Emma Montgomery (Winthrop, N.Y./St. Lawrence Central) (Freestyle) round out the new additions.
 
DeLorme (Butterfly/Individual Medley), Elliott Borden (Buffalo, N.Y./Amherst), Finn Boyle (Lynbrook, N.Y./Lynbrook) (Distance) and Tyler Tice (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) (Backstroke/Freestyle) make up the men's senior class. Tyler Schmitt (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) (Backstroke/Sprint Freestyle) and Matthew Bridge (Theresa, N.Y./Theresa) are the lone juniors. Jackson Korn (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence) (Freestyle) and Demetrio Schiavone (Altamont, N.Y./Guilderland) (Freestyle/Butterfly) are the newcomers and make up the freshman class.  
 
The Bears will compete in nine regular season meets this season before the SUNYAC Championships in Buffalo, February 18-21. After their trip to Cortland this weekend, they will head to Bard College on November 1. Potsdam heads to Hartwick College on November 8, to take on the host Hawks and SUNY Oneonta. The Bears will host the annual North Country Invitational on November 21-22. They wrap up the semester at the Cortland Invitational on December 5-6. They host Saint Michael's College on January 10, and St. Lawrence University invades Maxcy Hall Natatorium on January 16. The Bears then close out the regular season on the road, traveling across town to Clarkson University on January 17 and Oswego State on January 31.
 
All home meets will be streamed live on Potsdambears.com.