Swimming & Diving Hosts Army in Season Opener
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina swimming & diving kicks off its 2022-23 season on Fri., Sept. 23, at the Carolina Natatorium. The Gamecocks will host Army in the season opener under second-year head coach Jeff Poppell. The team will also welcome home parents and alumni for their annual Parents and Alumni Weekend.
Admission to the meet is free with competition getting started at 3 p.m. and pre-meet events beginning at 2:50 p.m. Live results will be provided on the subscription-based app MeetMobile.
The Gamecocks welcome 26 newcomers to the squad, including three-time All-American Erge Gezmis and Moldavian Olympian Tia Salcutan.
NCAA qualifier Brooke Schultz will return to the dive pool for the Gamecocks this year after setting two new school records in 3-meter diving last season, along with sweeping the springboards at the SEC Championships.
Also returning for the divers is SEC bronze medalist Manny Vazquez Bas. Vazquez Bas set two new programs records on the platform dive last season and competed for Team Puerto Rico over the summer at the FINA World Championships.
For the swimmers, Bella Pantano will be returning as a junior. Pantano set a new program record in the 100 backstroke last season and was the leadoff of the school record setting 200 medley relay team.
Michael Laitarovsky will continue his career this season as a sophomore. The Israeli Olympian holds the men’s program record in the 100 backstroke and competed over the summer at the FINA World Championships and at the European Games where he placed fourth in the 50 meter backstroke.
Also returning for the men’s program is senior Patrick Groters. Groters holds the program record in the 200 IM and competed for Aruba at the World Championships.
Parents and alumni are invited to a social outside of the Blatt following the meet. Parents, alumni, current athletes, and coaches will be in attendance. More information on the schedule of events for Parent and Alumni Weekend will be provided on the team’s official social media accounts.
For all the latest South Carolina swimming & diving information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockSwim).
