MSWM poised for breakout year

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Led by a veteran group, the Bryant University men's swimming and diving team has its sights set on another record-breaking campaign this upcoming winter.

It all begins on Friday, Oct. 17 when the Bulldogs open the season in Chestnut Hill, Mass., against Boston College. The men and women will both be competing against the Eagles.

Picked to finish fifth in the MAAC this season after a memorable championship last spring, the Black and Gold will rely on a bevy of upperclassmen. Leading the way will be senior Graham Beck (Danvers, Mass.) and junior Joshua Bjornberg (Wallingford, Conn.). Beck is coming off a historic junior season in which he set school records in the 100 breast, 200 breast and 500 free at the MAAC championships. He won the 200 breast, finished second in the 100 breast and eighth in the 500 free. Beck was also a crucial member of Bryant's record-setting 200 and 400 medley relay teams. Bjornberg gives the Bulldogs two of the best breaststrokers in the MAAC and is coming off another outstanding season. He finished seventh in the 200 breast and ninth in the 100 breast last spring.

Bryant will also look to juniors Samuel Linder (Dillsburg, Pa.), Brendan Miller-Radest (Chatham, N.J.) and Andrew Neggia (Ramsey, N.J.). Linder made strides in the distance events last spring and Miller-Radest has been one of Bryant's best in the long distance swims in each of his first two years. Neggia is coming off a spectacular performance at the MAAC championships in which he finished 10th in the 400 IM and 15th in the 200 fly.

The Bulldogs will also look to a strong sophomore class to make continued strides this season. Pierre Le Guyader (East Islip, N.Y.) and returning classmate John Lawson (Bernardsville, N.J.) will headline the class. Le Guyader finished fourth in the 50 free and seventh in the 100 free at the MAAC championships. He also helped the 200 and 400 free relay teams earn bronze medals and the 200 medley relay team to a school record. Lawson returns to the Bulldogs after a year off and will look to get back to his strong ways. He was a part of three school-record relay teams and set a school-record in the 100 fly in 2012-13.

Bryant will be testing itself quickly as it competes against BC, Providence, Iona and Vermont in the first four weeks of the season.