VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton swimming & diving teams officially launch their 2024-25 campaigns when they host Le Moyne on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Saunders Aquatic Center. It will mark the first of 10 meets, including the season-ending America East Championships Feb. 19-22 at VMI.

The Bearcat's men's team returns six all-conference selections from last year's team that captured its second America East title in four seasons. On the women's side, Binghamton returns four all-conference honorees. Each Bearcat squad also welcomes 12 newcomers.

Senior Elijah Lanfear is the defending America East men's champion in both the 50 free and 100 free. He also swam on the first-place 200 medley relay and 400 free relay teams.

Junior Liam Preston was the runner up in the 500 free and was third in the 200 free at last year's conference meet. Other returning top-three finishers include sophomore Harrison Lambert (second in the 1,650 free), graduate student Jake Vecchio (second in the 200 fly), senior Max Kaback (third in the 200 IM) and sophomore Dylan Norby, who was second in the one-meter diving event and third in the three-meter competition.

Graduate student Courtney Moane and senior Lauren Kuzma swept the America East women's 100- and 200 breaststroke titles respectively. They also joined sophomore Haley Nowak on the first-place 200- and 400 medley relay teams. Nowak was also sixth in the 200 fly and seventh in the 100 fly.

Other returning conference finalists for the Bearcat women at the conference meet last season include both sophomore Ava Lee and junior Lizzy Tirado in the one-meter diving event, junior Maria Pignatelli in the 50 free and sophomore Juliette Phillips in the 200 IM.

This weekend's meet against Le Moyne will be preceded by the ring ceremony for the 2023-24 Bearcat men's team. Several alums who were on last year's squad will be on hand for the event.