WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Washington & Jefferson College Swimming & Diving team is entering its eighth season under the direction of head coach Matt Rochna. The Red & Black are set to kick off their season on Friday, October 15th hosting Bethany and Wheeling for the W&J Tri-Meet.
 
2024-25 Season in Review: The men's swimming & diving team posted a 3-4-1 record (3-2 in PAC meets) and placed second among the seven teams at the Presidents' Athletic Conference Men's Championships. The second-place finish for the men is the highest finish since the 2015-16 season. The women's swimming & diving team posted a 2-7 record (2-4 in PAC meets) and placed sixth among the eight teams at the Presidents' Athletic Conference Women's Championships.
 
Freshman diver Zach Lloyd (Dillsburg, Pa./Lloyd Academy (Homeschooled)) was awarded PAC Men's Diver of the Year following his sweep of the diving events in the 1-meter and 3-meter dives. Coach Rochna claimed his first PAC Men's Coach of the Year honor after leading the W&J men to their first second-place finish at the conference championships since the 2015-16 season. Diving Coach Josh Vasko '17 picked up his second PAC Men's Diving Coach of the year honor after his success with Lloyd as a freshman. 
 
On the men's side, Lloyd and Logan Marks (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) each earned All-PAC First Team honors. The Presidents All-PAC Second Team recognition included Ethan Glessner (McKeesport, Pa./Elizabeth Forward), Brian Lowry (Wenonah, N.J./Gloucester County Institute of Technology), Aiden Marks (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin), March Yuan (Simi Valley, Calif./Oak Park), Daniel Jeffries (Irwin, Pa./Hempfield Area), Micah Lohr (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) and Aidan Miller (Grove City, Ohio/St. Charles Prep).
 
On the women's side, Luna Balzano (El Portal, Fla./Broward Virtual School) picked up All-PAC First Team honors. Amiyah White (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove Area), Sophia Garrett (Cincinnati, Ohio/Saint Ursula Academy), Maddie Malone (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello) and Morgan Baughman (West Newton, Pa./Mount Pleasant) each were named All-PAC Second Team selections. Taylor Newton (Olyphant, Pa./Scranton Prep) concluded the All-PAC honors for W&J with an Honorable Mention selection.
 

2025-26 PAC Men's Swimming and Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll (Predicted order of Championships finish)
School (first-place votes)	Points	2024-25 Championships finish
1. Grove City College (7)	56	1st (of 7) at PAC Championships, 1087 pts.
2. Washington & Jefferson College	48	2nd (of 7) at PAC Championships, 635 pts.
3. Saint Vincent College (1)	46	3rd (of 7) at PAC Championships, 589 pts.
4. Westminster College	35	4th (of 7) at PAC Championships, 468 pts.
5. Hiram College	30	8th (of 9) at NCAC Championships, 412.5 pts.
6. Chatham University	27	5th (of 7) at PAC Championships, 250 pts.
7. Allegheny College	24	6th (of 7) at PAC Championships, 234 pts.
8. Bethany College	14	7th (of 7) at PAC Championships, 8 pts.

2025-26 PAC Men's Swimmers and Divers to Watch - W&J

Name Yr. Events Ethan Glessner (McKeesport, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) (2) So. Back/Fly Daniel Jeffries (Irwin, Pa./Hempfield Area) (2) Jr. Back/Mid-Distance Zach Lloyd (Dillsburg, Pa./Lloyd Academy (Homeschooled)) (1) So. Diving Liam Miller (Grove City, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) Fr. Breast/IM March Yuan (Simi Valley, Calif./Oak Park) (2) So. Fly/IM

Men's Team Captains: Nathaniel Harden (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) and Aidan Miller (Grove City, Ohio/St. Charles Prep)
 
Key Returners: Zach Lloyd (Dillsburg, Pa./Lloyd Academy (Homeschooled)) returns to the Presidents ranks as the team's sole All-PAC First Team returner.
 
During his freshman season, Lloyd catapulted himself into the record books with his work on the diving boards. In a meet with Grove City on senior day, Lloyd broke the W&J 1-meter dive record with a total score of 506.85 through 11 dives. The former record holder and current W&J diving coach, Josh Vasko '17, previously held a best score of 500.10 in the 1-meter dive.
 
"Zach is one of our top key pieces in leading the men's team to success at dual meets and championship meets," said Head Coach Matt Rochna. "He consistently puts in the work with Coach Josh Vasko by continuing to add news dives to his arsenal and sharpening his current 1-meter / 3-meter lists."
 
At his first PAC Championships, Lloyd dominated the field and was named PAC Men's Diver of the Year. Lloyd finished the second day of the conference championships with an NCAA regionally qualifying score of 452.10, which crowned him as the PAC 1-Meter Diving Champion. He completed the sweep in the 3-meter dive with a score of 362.25 to be crowned champion. Lloyd is the first W&J diver to earn PAC Diver of the Year since Taylor Weyrich during the 2021-22 conference championships.
 
During the 2024-25 NCAA Diving Regionals held at Ithaca College, Lloyd finished 18^th in the 3-meter dive with 324.85 points and totaled 392.55 points in the 1-meter dive to place 12^th of 18.
 
"His first year was a year to remember, however he is determined to improve his diving lists from the 2024-25 season to plow further ahead at NCAA Regionals at the end of this season," replied Rochna. "We expect him to build upon the new experiences of being a collegiate diver he experienced his first year by taking everything he does one step further towards his overarching goals."
 
Aidan Miller (Grove City, Ohio/St. Charles Prep), Nathaniel Harden (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) and Reiner Jadav (Mumbai, India/St. Andrews College of Arts, Science, and Commerce) return as the men's team's trio of seniors for the 2025-26 season.
 
Miller finished the 2024-25 season as an All-PAC Second Team selection for the Presidents. The tenured swimmer also found his way on the All-PAC Sportsmanship Team last season.
 
Harden returns as a first-year captain for the squad heading into his final season. Harden was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team last season.
 
The Presidents also return six additional All-PAC Second Team selections including Ethan Glessner (McKeesport, Pa./Elizabeth Forward), Brian Lowry (Wenonah, N.J./Gloucester County Institute of Technology), Aiden Marks (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin), March Yuan (Simi Valley, Calif./Oak Park), Daniel Jeffries (Irwin, Pa./Hempfield Area) and Micah Lohr (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield).
 
"With Nate, Dan, and Micah being former Hempfield High School swimming & diving teammates, they created a sense of core belief within the team that anything can be accomplished if we stay together as ONE," said Rochna. "They bring to the table an incredible work ethic and a lead by example type of attitude that is contagious with everyone else they encounter. They know how to keep things light in their lanes when necessary, during a tough set but also get everyone to 'lock-in' at once towards a common goal."
 
Glessner, Lowry and Marks each swam laps in the 200-yard medley relay that broke the program record time previously set in 2016. The unit raced their way to a 1:34.91 time in the relay and bested the previous record by 0.66 seconds.
 
"Ethan has consistently put forth his best effort in the pool and weight room, always asking what else he can do to improve or what additional work he can get to help him reach that new level in the water," replied Rochna. "He had a fantastic rookie campaign, with fearlessness and ambition to do more damage his second year into his collegiate career."
 
Yuan was a standout for the Presidents through his freshman campaign. Yuan was awarded Men's PAC Swimming/Diving Newcomer of the Week on three occasions through the months of October and November.
 
"March had a stellar first year at the PAC Championships, being named a runner up in the voting competition for the Newcomer of the Year award," stated Rochna. "Expect March to be put into some different events this season to continue adding to his individual event list possibility at championship meets."
 
This season's team also features juniors Will Angus (Grafton, W.Va./Grafton) and Perry Barnhart (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan) as well as sophomores Aiden Filer (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) and Hector Santaella (Key Biscayne, Fla./Belen Jesuit Prep).
 
Newcomers: W&J welcomes eight newcomers into the fold for the men's 2025-2026 season.
 
Naelan Brooks (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk)                          Sprint Freestyle            
Mac Kishel (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area)                               Butterfly/Freestyle
Corbin Likar (Amity, Pa./Trinity)                             Freestyle
Brady Mavretish (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan)                       Freestyle
Liam Miller (Grove City, Ohio/St. Charles Prep)                               IM
Topher Mitchell (Annapolis, Md./Loyola Blakefield)                         Freestyle
Toby Moore (Winchester, Va./Eukarya Christian Academy)                              Freestyle
Jonah Richardson (Deerfield, Ill./Highland Park)                   Freestyle
 

2025-26 PAC Women's Swimming and Diving Preseason Coaches' Poll (Predicted order of Championships finish)
School (first-place votes)	Points	2024-25 Championships finish
1. Grove City College (8)	64	1st (of 8) at PAC Championships, 991 pts.
2. Saint Vincent College	56	2nd (of 8) at PAC Championships, 687 pts.
3. Westminster College (1)	49	3rd (of 8) at PAC Championships, 421 pts.
4. Washington & Jefferson College	41	6th (of 8), at PAC Championships, 334 pts.
5. Chatham University	35	4th (of 8) at PAC Championships, 399 pts.
6. Allegheny College	31	5th (of 8) at PAC Championships, 334 pts.
7. Franciscan University	25	7th (of 8) at PAC Championships, 263 pts.
8. Hiram College	12	8th (of 8) at NCAC Championships, 260 pts.
9. Bethany College	11	8th (of 8) at PAC Championships, 142 pts.

2025-26 PAC Swimmers & Divers to Watch - W&J

Name	Yr.	Events
Mackenzie Caron (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin)	Fr.	Mid-Distance Free
Sophia Garrett (Cincinnati, Ohio/Saint Ursula Academy) (2)	Jr.	Free/Back
Abrianna Hosley (Mill Hall, Pa./Agora Cyber)	Fr.	Back
Maddie Malone (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello) (2)	Jr.	Breast/IM
Amiyah White (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove Area) (2)	So.	Diving

"We are excited about the many possibilities that the new season will bring for our program," said Rochna. "With the men being voted to finish top two and the women being voted to finish in the top four at the 2026 PAC Championship meet, the team is as unified and focused as ever to stack quality days, weeks, and months together working towards the common goal of bringing home a championship trophy back to campus."
 
Women's Team Captains: Audrey Kough (Fayetteville, Pa./Chambersburg) and Maddie Malone (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello)
 
Key Returners: The W&J women's swimming & diving team has one graduating senior I their 2025-26 class, Audrey Kough (Fayetteville, Pa./Chambersburg).
 
Kough is a three-year captain for the Presidents and was named to the 2025-26 PAC Sportsmanship Team. She also was selected to the CSC Academic All-District team for the second time in her collegiate career following her junior campaign. Last season at the PAC Championships, Kough hit a personal-best time of 13:16.13 in the 1,000-yard freestyle.
 
W&J returns two All-PAC Second Team selections from a season ago including Sophia Garrett (Cincinnati, Ohio/Saint Ursula Academy) and Maddie Malone (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello).
 
Garrett had fourth place finishes on the podium in her two individual events at the PAC Championships. She shaved 1.34 seconds 100-yard backstroke and cut off 2.84 seconds in the 200-yard back.
 
Maddie Malone (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello) looks to continue setting personal bests in her events. At the PAC Championships last year, Malone shaved 6.39 seconds off in the 400-yard IM for a personal best. Malone also shaved 3.43 seconds off her 200-yard IM to set new lifetime best.
 
Malone finished on the podium at the PAC Championships with a sixth-place result in the 200-yard breaststroke.
 
"Madde and Sophie both joined the team the same year and were crucial recruiting pieces of their class. Having them for the past two seasons has been special and key building blocks to the next two seasons," replied Rochna. "We picture them having continued success in dual and prelims/finals style meets because of the focus and dedication they have in the pool and weight room."
 
Amiyah White (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove Area), the Presidents lone female diver, finished as the runner up for the women's one-meter diving at the PAC Championships. White's score of 282.05 at the conference championships was a personal best in the 11 dive 1-meter.
 
"Amiyah has a special rookie season on the boards filled with perfecting the current 1-meter dives she brought from her high school program. This season, the diving staff has focused on developing her 3-meter diving lists and skillset, while also adding higher DD dives into her 1-meter list," said Rochna. "We all look for her to take another giant step forward as she continues to be put in the sweat to get there."
 
Sophie Talamonti (Flushing, Ohio/Union Local) also returns as a mid-distance freestyler for the Presidents this season. Talamonti littered her career times with personal-bests last season, racing to four at the PAC Championships.
 
"Sophie is someone who continues to show us how hard she can work to improve and reach her ultimate goals. Sophie transitioned into one of our go to 500/1,000/mile team members providing the team with the points and distance depth we rely on at our mid-season and championship meets," stated Rochna. "She continues to lead by example in and out of the pool this season and we are excited to see her continued growth in her sophomore season."
 
Newcomers: W&J welcome eight newcomers into the fold for the women's 2025-2026 season.
 
"The continued development of our current team picked up last month with our first practice of the year as if the last season never truly ended," stated Rochna. "The newcomers seamlessly began to blend into our returning team in September, and they are ready to overcome obstacles or challenges that come their way. It's clear that everyone is focused on how they can play their part in the team to the best of their abilities and are striving to chase their own personal goals leading to overall team success."
 
Mela Barnhart (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan)                       Freestyle
Mackenzie Caron (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin)                Mid-Distance Freestyle
Andrea DeLong (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan)                     Distance Freestyle     
Riley Gutierrez (Deer Park, Texas/Deer Park)                       Butterfly/Freestyle                                      
Elizabeth Hall (Dewitt, Mich./Dewitt)                         Butterfly/Backstroke
Gabriella Hnaras (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan)                    Freestyle
Abrianna Hosley (Mill Hall, Pa./Agora Cyber)                   Backstroke
Rachel Xu (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny)                               Freestyle/IM
 
Coaching Staff: Matt Rochna (St. Bonaventure, '15) enters his eighth season as head men's and women's swimming and diving coach in 2025-26. 

Rochna was named the Presidents' Athletic Conference Men's Swimming Coach of the Year after the W&J men's swimming & diving team wrapped the 2024-25 PAC Championships as the runner-up. Under his tutelage, Logan Marks (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) broke his record in the 200-yard breaststroke and became a back-to-back champion in the event at the conference championships. Rochna also aided in the development of PAC Men's Diver of the Year Zach Lloyd (Dillsburg, Pa./Lloyd Academy (Homeschooled)). Lloyd won both the 1-meter and 3-meter dive at the PAC Championships.

Josh Vasko '17 joined W&J in August of 2021 and serves as the Head Diving Coach for the W&J swimming & diving program. 

"Earning my first Coach of the Year honor and Coach Vasko picking up his second Diving Coach of the Year award last season were testaments to all the sacrifices and hard work the team put in for six months straight," stated Rochna. "Without every single team member playing their crucial part when it mattered most, we wouldn't have been able to reach the accomplishments we made this past season. We thanked the team for a special season and were honestly just happy to see the season end the way we thought it should."

Vasko earned his second PAC Diving Coach of the Year honor and first on the men's side in 2024-25. Vasko's top men's diver, Zach Lloyd (Dillsburg, Pa./Lloyd Academy (Homeschooled)), swept the 1-meter and 3-meter individual title at the PAC Championships to become the PAC Men's Diver of the Year. Under his tutelage, Lloyd also broke Vasko's previously owned record at W&J in the 1-meter dive against Grove City. Lloyd logged a total score of 506.85 through 11 dives to beat the previous record of 500.10.

Vasko earned PAC Women's Diving Coach of the Year honors in 2022. He coached PAC Women's Diver of the Year, Taylor Weyrich, during the 2021-22 season. Weyrich claimed both the 1-Meter and 3-Meter diving titles at the 2022 PAC Championships. 
 
"Coach Vasko and I look to continue to work as hard as we can to lead our program in the right direction, while taking the time to appreciate the team's accomplishments each season," said Rochna. "We believe that we have a clear picture of continued sustained success moving forward that comes to fruition by current/ past team members that believe in our vision of success for everyone who buys in."

Washington & Jefferson College announced the addition of Robert Harrington as a new addition to the staff as an assistant coach of the men's and women's swimming & diving programs in August 2025.
 
Harrington comes to W&J after spending four years swimming at Saint Vincent.  While competing for the Bearcats, he was named an honorable mention on the All-PAC team during the 2021-22 season.

"Coach Robbie has been near perfect in his mid-distance/distance strategic programming to help this crew get to the next level; especially when it counts most at big meets," said Rochna. "He has been guiding her so far to continued improvement and endurance."

Haley Ashner, a 2017 graduate of W&J, enters her second season on the Swimming & Diving staff after joining the 2024-25 season. Ashner aided development of PAC Men's Diver of the Year Lloyd in 2024-25 alongside diving coach Josh Vasko.
 
Last Word from Rochna: " With all of the time, dedication, and hard work the team continues to put in everyday they show up on pool deck or in the weight room will lead to the season results that we are looking for including the highest possible place we can finish at our mid-season meet and PAC Championships. We are truly looking forward to the grind and the journey that comes with a long swimming & diving season because we know the team that can continue to attack their weakness from the previous week will be the ones who are the most satisfied when it is all said and done. As long as our team strives to reach their personal accomplishments while balancing the demands of being a Division III student-athlete, we will be happy and content when the season ends."