Men's Swim & Dive Adds Nine Newcomers for 2019-20

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Head coach Dan Schinnerer announced the Bucknell men's swimming & diving team's nine-man incoming freshman class on Wednesday.

"We are very excited about the potential impact this class can have on our program," Schinnerer said. "It is a large class that will add both depth and quality across a wide array of events. This class will also add some great geographic diversity to our team and hopefully continue to build our national presence as a program."

The incoming freshmen hail from five different states: California (4), New York (2), Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania. They are projected to compete in a variety of disciplines, with three in sprint freestyle events and two in breaststroke races.

During the 2018-19 campaign, the Bison went 3-5 (3-4 Patriot League) in dual competition before placing third at the Patriot League Championships and fourth at the ECAC Championships. Over the course of the season, school standards fell in the 50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay. Bucknell returns two-time All-Patriot League Second Team honoree Matt McGoey but needs to replace Chadd Cummings and Charlie McFarland, both of whom captured individual silver medals at the 2019 Patriot League Championships and were key members of Bison relay teams.

Alec Baker
Freestyle/Backstroke/Butterfly/IM, Lafayette, Calif., Campolindo High School

Before Bucknell: Swam for Campolindo High School, helping team win NCS titles in 2019 and 2017 … member of All-American 400 freestyle relay team in 2019 and 2018 and All-American 200 freestyle relay team in 2019 … NCS Scholar-Athlete … four-time NCS finalist … Southern Section (CIF) State Team … all-league honoree … served as team captain and received coaches' award … also swam for Orinda Aquatics, winning coaches' award multiple times and competing on junior national relay team … competed with the Finnish National Team every summer since turning 15 … helped Finnish club team, Cetus, win national titles in 2018, 2017 and 2016 … was a Finnish Junior National Medalist in 2018, 2017 and 2016 … was a member of the Finnish Junior National champion 400 freestyle relay team.

Personal: Alec Darren Baker … born June 25, 2000 in Burlingame, California … son of Darren and Maarit Baker … has one older sister, Liv, who swam at Claremont McKenna College … father was a pro cyclist who was an Olympic Team alternate and competed for the USA National Team and U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team … holds dual citizenship with the United States and Finland … is training to represent Finland at the 2024 Olympics … speaks Finnish, German and Spanish.

Alan Flower
Distance Freestyle/IM, Centerville, Ohio, Centerville High School

Before Bucknell: Swam for Centerville High School, helping team win Greater Western Ohio Conference titles in 2019 and 2018 … 2019 Greater Western Ohio Conference Swimmer of the Year … competed at the 2019 OHSAA state championship meet, placing seventh in the 500 freestyle, 21st in the 200 freestyle, 14th in the 200 freestyle relay and 16th in the 400 freestyle relay … earned team's Most Valuable Swimmer and Newcomer awards … served as team captain … also swam for the Dayton Raiders … qualified for the 2018 USA Swimming Winter Junior Nationals in the 1,650 freestyle.

Personal: Alan Jordan Flower … born March 29, 2001 in Glen Cove, New York … son of Alan and Kristie Flower … has one brother: Jackson … mother swam for Florida Atlantic University … comes from a military family … growing up, moved five times and attended schools in five different states.

Ryaan Hatoum
Breaststroke, Tampa, Fla., Berkeley Preparatory School

Before Bucknell: Swam for Berkeley Preparatory School … two-time All-American … all-county honoree … won 11 regional titles ... placed third in the 100 breaststroke at the FHSAA 1A State Championship in both 2018 and 2017 … served as team captain … took third in the 100 breaststroke and fourth in the 200 breaststroke at the 2018 USA Swimming Futures Championships … also swam for the Berkeley Barracudas and Berkeley Aquatics Club.

Personal: Ryaan Hatoum … born June 8, 2001 in Tampa, Florida … son of Walid and Roxane Hatoum … has one older brother: Andreas … is training to represent Lebanon at the 2024 Olympics.

Garrett Kiesel
Backstroke, Millwood, N.Y., Horace Greeley High School

Before Bucknell: Swam for Horace Greeley High School, helping team win sectional, league and conference titles every year and go an unbeaten 54-0 in dual competition … state finalist in 2019 and 2018 … all-section selection in 2019 and 2018 … all-league in 2019, 2018 and 2017 … served as team captain … also swam for Empire Swimming, competing for its national and futures teams while serving as team captain.

Personal: Garrett William Kiesel … born August 23, 2001 in White Plains, New York … son of Alyson Gardner … has two siblings: Isabel and Avery … served as president of high school's band … won Driver's Ed award … is following Horace Greeley graduates Matt and Emma Hadley to Bucknell … Matt was summer swim coach.

Leo Kuyl
Sprint Freestyle, New Paltz, N.Y., New Paltz High School

Before Bucknell: Swam for New Paltz High School … won a New York State Public High School title and a Speedo Sectional championship … was a five-time Section 9 champion … broke multiple pool records over the course of senior year in the 50 and 100 freestyles … earned team's MVP and Scholar-Athlete Awards … set meet record at the Adirondack Golds Championships en route to an individual title … broke club team's records in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles … captained both high school and club teams for two seasons … also competed in soccer at New Paltz, winning the Scholar-Athlete and Sportsmanship award … lone member of graduating class at New Paltz who is going on to compete at the Division I level in any sport.

Personal: Leo Kuyl … born September 13, 2000 in Westchester, N.Y. … son of Pierre and Patricia Kuyl … has two older siblings: Emile and Morgane … brother Emile swam at Johns Hopkins University … holds dual citizenship with the United States and Belgium … is training to represent Belgium at the 2024 Olympics … is bilingual in English and French.

Matt Mills
Sprint Freestyle, Santa Barbara, Calif., San Marcos High School

Before Bucknell: Swam for San Marcos High School … broke school records in the 50 freestyle (20.92) and 100 freestyle (45.55) … member of the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay teams that set new San Marcos standards … also competed for Santa Barbara Swim Club for 11 years.

Personal: Matthew Robert Mills … born April 26, 2001 in Santa Barbara, California … son of Steve and Vicki Mills … has one younger sister: Lauren … works as a lifeguard for the city of Santa Barbara and the state of California.

Nick Pirone
Diving, West Chester, Pa., Bayard Rustin High School

Before Bucknell: Dove for Bayard Rustin High School … four-time PIAA District 1 Championship qualifier … 2018 PIAA District 1 medalist … NISCA All-America Academic Team … Daily Local News All-Area Honorable Mention selection … served as team captain … also competed for the West Chester Diving Junior Olympic Team.

Personal: Nicholas Edward Pirone … born October 15, 2000 in Chester, Pennsylvania … son of Steven and Shari Pirone … has two younger siblings: Alec and Sophia … plans to major in biomedical engineering.

George Rump
Breaststroke/IM, Cardiff, Calif., Torrey Pines High School

Before Bucknell: Swam for Torrey Pines High School, helping team win three Avocado League titles and one CIF San Diego Division 1 crown … two-time Scholastic All-American … qualified for 2019 California state meet … captured 2019 CIF Division 1 Sportsmanship Award … earned team's coaches' award and championship banner … also swam for North Coast Aquatics, competing on its Silver Medal Club … qualified for the USA Swimming Winter Junior Nationals … at conclusion of high school career, owned personal records of 57.08 in the 100 breaststroke and 2:04.35 in the 200 breaststroke.

Personal: George William Rump … born November 29, 2000 in La Jolla, California … son of Joel and Annie Rump.

Christian Stef
Sprint Freestyle, Corona, Calif., Centennial High School

Before Bucknell: Swam for Centennial High School … Scholastic All-American … conference champion … Southern Section (CIF) finalist … state finalist … broke school records in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly … member of the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay teams that set new Centennial standards … served as team captain … also competed for Irvine Novaquatics, winning summer and winter junior national titles.

Personal: Christian Phillip Stef … born November 24, 2000 in Corona, California … son of Florin and Daniela Stef … has one older brother: Bryan.

Bucknell University Athletics

Men's Swim & Dive Adds Nine Newcomers for 2019-20

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