LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University swimming and diving teams begin the 2019-20 season on Saturday, October 5, with a road dual meet against in-state rival Seton Hall. The Broncs and Pirates will square off in the season-opener for the second year in a row.
 
In last year's dual meet, the Rider men scored a 163-137 victory and the Pirate women edged the Broncs, 170-126. For the men, Justin Carey won three events and the women saw Kylie McMahon win a pair of event and finish second in another.
 
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2019-20 BRONCS
- Both the men and women will host a trio of dual meets inside the newly renovated Coppola Pool this season. The Broncs see Lehigh (Oct. 19), Marist (Nov. 2) and Lafayette (Jan. 25) all come to campus this year.
 
- At last year's MAAC Championships, the Bronc men captured their eighth conference championships in a row. Once again, the Rider men broke a handful of championship records. Dillon Walles was tabbed as the MAAC Men's Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet. On the women's side, Kayla May was honored as the MAAC Women's Rookie Swimmer of the Meet.
 
- Head Coach Steve Fletcher was named the MAAC Men's Swimming Coach of the Year for the sixth season in a row last year. The Broncs also saw Kristen Simms honored as the Diving Coach of the Year.
 
- The Broncs return two of their top three divers on both the men's and women's sides this year. Dillon Walles and Patrick Rollefson are the returners for the men, while Meg Tomayko and Meagan Fornero are back for the women. Walles was named the MAAC Men's Diver of the Week four times as a sophomore and he won gold in both the 1M and 3M at the MAAC Championships. Walles also qualified for the NCAA Zone A Championships in both the 1M and 3M. On the women's side, Tomayko was once tabbed as the MAAC Women's Diver of the Week last year and she won gold in the 3M at the MAAC Championships. Tomayko also won silver in both the 1M and 3M at the ECAC Championships.
 
- Justin Carey and Daniel Bonge highlight the returners on the men's side. Carey was named the MAAC Swimmer of the Week on Oct. 9 of last season. At the MAAC Championships, he was part of the 800 free relay that won gold, part of the 400 free relay that won gold and set a new meet record, part of the 200 medley relay that finished second and earned a silver medal, won a silver medal thanks to finishing second in the 100 Fly with a time of 47.43 and won gold and set a new MAAC record with a time of 47.46 in the 100 back. Bonge had a solid showing at the MAAC Championships a year ago as he was part of the 800 free relay that won gold, part of the 200 free relay that won gold, earned a bronze medal in the 200 fly and he was also part of the 400 free relay that won gold and set a new meet record at the MAAC Championships.
 
- Kylie McMahon and Kayla May highlight the returners in the pool for the women. McMahon was named the MAAC Women's Swimmer of the Week a conference-best four times last season. At the MAAC Championships, McMahon was part of the 200 medley relay that won a silver medal, was part of the 400 medley relay that came in second-place with a silver and she also finished in fifth-place with a time of 57.33 in the 100 fly. May brought home a major award at the MAAC Championships. At the event, May was part of the 800 free relay that won a bronze medal, she won a bronze medal in the 200 IM, picked up a silver medal as part of the 400 medley relay, earned a gold medal in the 100 back and she also brought home a silver medal in the 200 back.
 
- The Rider men had four newcomers this year as Andrew Iannacone (Yardley, PA/Holy Ghost Prep), Matt Lequang (Plainsboro, NJ/Notre Dame), Lucas Racevicius (Watertown, CT/Holy Cross High School) and David Rucci (Sewell, NJ/Gateway Regional) have all joined the team in 2019-20.
 
The women have a pair of newcomers as Giavanna Lupi (Vineland, NJ/Vineland) and Maddie McSorley (Philadelphia, PA/Nazareth Academy) have both joined the squad in 2019-20.