Stags Get the 2017-18 Season Underway Tomorrow

CLAREMONT, Calif. – As hard as it is to believe, the 2017-18 men's swimming and diving season is already here. The Stags begin the new season tomorrow afternoon when they travel to UC San Diego to take on the Tritons in a dual at noon. Last week the Stags were ranked 14th in the CSCAA NCAA Division III Preseason Poll and will be put to the test immediately with a meet against the Division II No. 7 Tritons.

See below for a preview of the upcoming season:

A Look Back
Last season, the Stags earned their 10th-straight SCIAC Title with an eight-point victory over Pomona-Pitzer in the SCIAC Championship. In the conference championships, the Stags claimed 10 Individual SCIAC Titles and a pair of relay titles. Matt Williams (CMC) won his second-straight SCIAC Athlete of the Year honor to lead the strong conference championships for CMS.

The Stags went on to finish 14th at the NCAA Championships, their fifth-straight top-15 finish at the National Championships.

A small senior class last season means the Stags only lose Williams, Graham Spurzem (CMC), and Austin Melody (CMC) due to graduation. Both Williams and Spurzem competed at the National Championships last March. Williams was also a former National Champion in the 100 backstroke at the 2016 Championships.

In the Pool
CMS returns three competitors from last year's National Championships Meet, with Jackson Crewe (HMC) back in the pool for his junior campaign and Ben Culberson (CMC) and Kendall Hollimon (CMC) back for their sophomore seasons.

In total, the Stags' 2017-18 roster features five different swimmers and divers who own individual medals from the SCIAC Championships. Junior Aaron Lutzker (HMC) won the 200 breaststroke at the 2016 Championships before topping the podium in the 200 IM last year. Junior John Everett (CMC) took the gold in the 200 butterfly last season.

Three CMS freshman stood atop the SCIAC last season, with Culberson winning the 500 freestyle, Henry Limm (HMC) claiming the 400 IM, and Holliman sweeping the 1-meter and 3-meter diving competitions.

In addition to the slew of returners, the Stags will welcome 14 fresh faces to the pool this season. Look for this group of freshman to compliment some seasoned veterans already on the squad.

What to Watch For
As mentioned the Stags begin the 2017 season tomorrow afternoon at UC San Diego at 12:00 p.m. The dual with the Tritons beings a stretch of four-straight Saturdays with events for the Stags. Included in those four weekends are home meets against the Alumni (Nov. 4), Whittier/La Verne (Nov. 11), and Redlands (Nov. 18). After a week off for Thanksgiving, CMS will cross the street to take to take on the Sagehens on Dec. 1 and 2.

Following the meet with the Sagehens, the Stags will not compete until the calendar flips to 2018. The Cal Baptist Distance Meet on Jan. 5 starts off a busy month preparing for the SCIAC Championships at the end of February. Home meets against Whitman (Jan. 10) and Occidental/Caltech (Jan. 20) highlight the full January slate.

The SCIAC Championships will take place in Commerce, Calif. on Feb. 21-24 while NCAA Diving Prelims are scheduled for San Antonio, Texas on Mar. 2-3. The NCAA Championships are slated for Mar. 21-24 in Indianapolis, Ind.

On the Deck
Head coach Charlie Griffiths enters his 17th season at the helm for both the Stags and Athenas. During his tenure, CMS swimming and diving has claimed 24 SCIAC team titles and hold a 218-12 record in SCIAC duals.

Griffiths is joined on the deck by assistant coaches Courtney Eads (sixth season), David Fahey (sixth season), and Juliet Suess (second season) along with diving coach Fran Jobes (fourth season).

Around the SCIAC
Last night the SCIAC released their Preseason Poll. The coaches selected the Stags first in the nine-team conference. CMS received eight of the nine first-place votes and picked-up 80 of a possible 81 points to take the top spot. Just behind CMS was Pomona-Pitzer (73 points), while Redlands (57), Cal Lutheran (56), and Occidental (38) rounded out the top-five.

2017-18 SCIAC Men's Swimming & Diving Preseason Poll
(#) Denotes First Place Votes
1. CMS (8) - 80 points
2. Pomona-Pitzer (1) - 73 points
3. Redlands - 57 points
4. Cal Lutheran - 56 points
5. Occidental - 38 points
6. Caltech - 33 points
7. La Verne - 28 points
8. Whittier - 21 points
9. Chapman - 19 points