FROSTBURG, Md. - Frostburg State Athletics will be taking a preview for each team competing in the Winter season, covering six total sports. Throughout the next month, each team will be broken down into their expectations, key players, and overall outlook for their season and program. First up for winter sports is Men's Swimming.
 
Overall
Frostburg State Men's Swimming is set to kick off their 46^th season this 2024-25 athletic year, as the program welcomes Head Coach Kyle Garase for his first season with the team.  Garase will be accompanied by Volunteer Assistant Coach Jan Burton, who returns for another year. 
 
Last Season
Frostburg finished with a 6-5 overall record in the 2023-24 season, going for another terrific run in the MEC, posting a 5-0 regular season conference record, setting them up for their second-consecutive Mountain East title.  The Bobcats finished first in the conference championships, placing second overall alongside GMAC opponents.  Nate Canapp was named MEC Men's Swimmer of the Year, also for the second straight time, taking home First-Team All-MEC honors in the 500, 1,000, and 1,650 free.  Canapp also went on to set the school record in the 500 free and 1,000 free, while also being a member of the program's record breaking 800 free relay.  Julian Najarro Sedar, Noah Loper, Andy Creelman, and Tory Reynolds received First Team All-MEC in the 200 free relay, while Najarro Sedar, Jackson Miller, Dylan King, and Luka Smith received First Team honors in the 400 medley relay, and the team of Najarro Sedar, King, Loper, and Miller earned the accolade in the 400 free relay.  In addition, Jack Bond, PJ Emrich, and Abe Bias helped FSU take home Second Team All-MEC and All-MEC Honorable Mention honors as well. 
 
Returners
Garase is happy to have a tremendous number of swimmers return, welcoming back 16 from last year's roster, having lost key pieces Creelman, Loper, Miller, Justin Geiszler, Myles Henderson, and Matthew Rotman, all who rounded out their Bobcat careers.  Emrich returns as a graduate student, while Canapp will lead the senior class with fellow classmates Tave Chanthavong, Mikkel LeBlanc, Sean O'Connor, Jaden Tipton, and Smith.  Josh Horner, Nigel Webster, Andrew Wetherhold, and Alex Whitton represent the junior class, while Bias, Bond, King, Reynolds, and Isaac Cummings come back as sophomores.
 
Newcomers
Garase looks to have a small group of newcomers on the men's side, with Dylan Dela-Vega, Bradin Norris, and Nathan Schwarz standing as the freshman class, while also adding sophomore transfer Josh Stokes, who swam at Notre Dame College prior. 
 
Kick Off to Season
FSU opens their season on the road this coming weekend on Saturday, October 12 with a tri-meet against West Virginia Wesleyan and Wheeling at 1 PM.  Frostburg then comes home for their next meet, welcoming in Shippensburg at 5 PM on Friday, October 18, and Davis & Elkins at 1 PM on Saturday, October 19, both for Homecoming Weekend and the team's home openers.  The Mountain East Conference Championships are scheduled to be held Wednesday, February 12 through Sunday, February 16 in Canton, Ohio. 
 
For more information and upcoming previews, please visit frostburgsports.com.