SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Led by the return of Olympian Ben Schulte (Tumon, Guam) and Colin Curtin (Wethersfield, Conn.), the Bryant University men's swimming and diving team heads into the 2016-17 season with a chance to put together the best season in program history.
The Bulldogs begin their season on Sunday, Oct. 9 at Boston College before travelling to Providence on Oct. 21. Bryant will then open its home schedule on Saturday, Oct. 22 when it welcomes Maine to Smithfield.
Coming off their best finish in program history at last year's MAAC Championships, the Bulldogs have their sights set on more history this winter. Predicted to finish third in the preseason poll, Bryant welcomes back Schulte, Curtin and a host of other swimmers that set school records or scored points at last year's championship meet.
Schulte returns for his third season and is coming off his second appearance in the Olympics this summer. In two years, Schulte has won six individual gold medals at the MAAC Championships. He set three individual school records and was a member of four other relay teams that set school records a year ago. Schulte, the 2015 MAAC Swimmer of the Meet, has won 48 events over the last two seasons.
Curtin is also entering his third year at Bryant and has put together quite the resume as well. He set both back records at the championships a year ago, leaving Buffalo with a gold medal in the 100 back. Curtin also had a hand in seven school records last season and has the chance to dominant the back events at the MAACs once again.
The Bulldogs will be far from a two-man show, though, as they welcome back a wealth of talent. Charlie Broe (New Windsor, N.Y.), Benon Boyadjian (Middlebury, Conn.) and Tavish Boyle (Springfield, N.J.) all excelled as underclassmen at the championships last season and come back ready to improve. Broe set a school record in the 1000 free, Boyadjian set the program record in the 100 fly and Boyle capped a strong rookie season with a silver medal in the 200 breast, finishing behind Schulte.
Bryant also welcomes back Oliver French (Nashua, N.H.), Kyle Koziol (Farmington, Conn.), Zachary Hannon (Marlborough, Conn.), Boris Paraliticci (Saunderstown, R.I.) and George Sommerville (Pittsfield, Mass.). French also broke the previous school record in the 1000, while Koziol, Hannon, Paraliticci and Sommerville all contributed to Bryant's dominant relay teams.
On the board, the Black and Gold welcome back Kevin Sullivan (East Lyme, Conn.) and will look to Zach Vogel (South Easton, Mass.) to make contributions right away. Sullivan finished 10th in the 3 meter at the MAAC Championships, while Vogel finished third at the Massachusetts DI state championships last winter.
In addition to Boston College, Providence and Maine, the Bulldogs will also take on Brown and will host Boston University for the first time in program history.
