ORONO, ME - The University of Maine Swim and Dive programs open up their season this Saturday and Sunday at Wallace Pool when they host the University of New Brunswick. Saturday's events will have a start time of 2:30pm and the Sunday events will start at 9:00am.

Admission into Wallace Pool is free of charge.

Men's Athletes to watch:

Joey Stauss: Stauss is coming off a strong freshman campaign for the Black Bears. Stauss finished 2nd in the 200 IM with a time of 1:49.11 at the America East Championships last year. Stauss also finished 3rd in the 100 Fly with a time of 47.21 also at the America East Championships. Stauss is looking to start the 2025-26 season off strong this weekend.

Matt Bendoraitis: Bendoraitis is returning to Maine for his junior season. Bendoraitis is coming off of a 5th place finish at the America East Championships in the 200 Back with a time of 1:49.90. Bendoraitis is poised for a strong campaign for the Black Bears this season.

Julian LaPietra: LaPietra is back for his senior campaign after a strong season last year for the Black Bears. LaPietra was a key piece of the success for the Black Bears last season that included a 6th place finish in the 100 Free at the America East Championships. LaPietra finished the 100 Free with a time of 44.70. LaPietra looks to start the season off on the right foot this weekend.

Noah Machristie: Machristie is coming off his freshman season with Maine. Machristie's season included two first place finishes in Maine's Nov 2 meet against Norwich and Husson where Machristie finished 1st in both the 100 Free and 200 Free.

Nate Teerlinck: Teerlinck returns to the Black Bears for his senior season after a very strong junior season. Teerlinck was a key member to the success of the Black Bears last year including a 8th place finish in the 100 Breast at the America East Championships last year.

Woman's Athletes to watch:

Mia Poirier: Poirier is back for her season season with the Black Bears after another strong campaign last season. Poirier is a key piece to Maine's freestyle relay team that captured multiple first places finishes throughout last season. Poirier also had a personal best at the America East Championships in the 50 Free with a time of 24.07 in the timed finals. Poirier looks to get 2025-26 off on the right foot.

Laura Dube: Dube, another senior on the Black Bears team returns after a strong junior campaign. Dube set new personal bests in both the 100 Breast (1:06.14) and the 200 Breast (2:25.05) at the America East Championships last season. Dube looks to start her senior season off strong this weekend.

Nicki Harkins: Harkins enters her sophomore season with the Black Bears after a strong freshman campaign. Harkins had a personal best in the 1650 Free at the America East Championships last season with a time of 17:29.20. Harkins looks to start the season off on the right foot this year.

Charlie Hoover: Hoover is coming off of a strong freshman campaign with the Black Bears last season. Hoover set new personal bests in the 100 Back, 200 Back and the 200 IM all at the America East Championships last year. Hoover looks to make an impact for Maine in the 2025-26 season.

Amelia Obszarny: Obszarny joins the Black Bears after spending her freshman season at Seton Hall University of the Big East conference. Obszarny was a major part of the Pirates Medley and Freestyle relay teams finishing in the top 5 at the Big East Championships in the 200 Freestyle Relay, the 400 Freestyle Relay, 200 Medley Relay, and the 400 Medley Relay.

Divers this season:

Ashley LeClaire: LeClaire returns for her senior season with the Black Bears. LeClaire finished the dual meet against Providence College on Jan 25 with a 1st place (265.50) and 2nd place (251.03) finish on the board.

Jeremiah Small: Small returns to Maine for his sophomore season after a strong freshman campaign on the board. Small had a career day in Maine's dual meet against Providence College on Jan 25. Small finished in 1st place in two separate diving events with scores of 301.73 and 281.78. Small will look to build off his freshman campaign this season.

-UMaine-