Marist Men’s Swimming Adds 8 for 2016-2017 Season

POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist men’s swimming and diving team, led by Head Coach Larry VanWagner and reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Diving Coach of the Year Melanie Bolstad, has announced eight incoming freshmen who will join the Red Foxes for the 2016-17 season. The members of the program’s Class of 2020 include one diver and seven swimmers and hail from five different states: New York, Connecticut, Maine, Florida and Michigan.

Raislan Aiken – Diving – Glens Falls, NY – Glens Falls High School – Flip & Rip Dive Club

Aiken holds the school record in the 1- and 3-meter dives at Glens Falls High School. He is a three-time state qualifier and a two-time Section II Champion. In the classroom he has been an honor and high honor student since his freshman year.

Matt Corona – Free – Naugatuck, CT – Holy Cross High School – Cheshire YMCA Sea Dogs

Corona had an impact on Holy Cross High School’s swim team from the very beginning, as he was named Freshman MVP in 2012. He was presented with the Coaches’ Award as a junior and was chosen as Team MVP the following year. Corona owns three school records and, as a junior, led his school to its first NVL team title in 35 years before helping Holy Cross repeat as NVL champions the following season. He was also a dual Class S individual event champion. Academically, Corona was a member of the National Honor Society and earned a spot on the honor roll every marking period for the last four years. As a sophomore he earned the James E. Tobin Scholarship for academic and swimming accomplishment.

Kevin Kane – Fly/Free – Falmouth, ME – Cheverus High School – Portland Porpoise Swim Club

A back to back swimming MVP at his high school, Kane has competed in the state championships the past four seasons. He has set multiple records in age group relays and all-star relays. Kane has competed for PPSC Swimming for the last eight years, attending national meets in New York, Rhode Island, Texas and Massachusetts. In the 200-yard butterfly he set state records in Maine for the 13-14 and 15-16 age groups. He was president of the Spanish Club in high school and held multiple fundraisers for a Cheverus sister school in Haiti.

Luis Llenin – Breast/Free – Doral, FL – Doral Academy – Metro Aquatic Club

Llenin has been a team captain for Doral Academy. He was an FHSAA State 3A finalist and team champion. He was recently named the school’s Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Evan Nilsson – Back/Free – Mount Sinai, NY – Mount Sinai High School – Three Village Swim Club

In his senior year of high school Nilsson swam to a time of 16:02.39 at the 20th Annual TYR Holiday Classic. During the regular season he dropped eight seconds from his personal best time in the 200-yard backstroke and competed in the 2016 NCSA Junior Nationals meet in Orlando. Nilsson also maintained a GPA high enough for the Principal’s List.

Michael O’Donovan – Free – Falmouth, ME – Cheverus High School – Portland Porpoise Swim Club

O’Donovan has won individual and relay freestyle events at almost all distances during his high school career. He is the Cheverus record holder in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle and was the Class A state champion at both distances. A team captain the last two years, he was also a member of the Class A meet record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay team and the 400-yard freestyle relay squad that took first place. O’Donovan earned Southern Maine Swim League First Team honors in four events and was the runner up in overall individual points at the 2016 MSI Junior Olympics. He is a three-time champion in the 1,000-yard freestyle and two-time champion at 1,650 yards at the annual meet. He earned a spot on the SMAA All-Academic Team.

Cameron Sackett – Free – Dewitt, MI – Dewitt High School – Mid-Michigan Aquatics

Sackett was a Dream Team All-Area Selection and five-time state finalist in Michigan. He earned All-State recognition in the 400-yard freestyle relay and led off for the 200-yard freestyle relay squad at Dewitt High School. He was the team’s MVP his final two seasons. Academically, Sackett was ranked in the top 10 percent of his graduating class and was the Executive Vice President of Student Government. He performed in many theater productions during high school and was a state award winning vocalist in the Chamber Choir.

Daniel Tucci – Back – Scarsdale, NY – Scarsdale High School – Empire Swim Club

A Section I and New York State Championship qualifier during his senior year of high school, Tucci has also competed at Junior Nationals for the last three years. Out of the pool he has been involved with Boy Scouts of America and is expected to reach Eagle rank next month.

The upcoming academic year will feature Marist swimming and diving’s largest combined men’s and women’s roster in program history. Between the men and women, the Red Foxes have won a conference title for 22 of the last 23 years.

Marist College contributed this report.

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