The Berry men's and women's swim teams dive into the new season Saturday when the largest squad head coach Paul Flinchbaugh has ever had since he took over the program in 2008 hosts Southern Athletic Conference foe Centre starting at 11 a.m. at the Cage Natatorium.

                "We've got a great bunch of kids," Flinchbaugh said about the 22 men and 22 women who will represent Berry this season in the water. ""We have a strong team om both sides and we're expecting a good opener with Centre. That will give us an idea of what we have."
 
                The Vikings are coming off a strong showing last spring when the men placed second at the conference championships while the women picked up a fourth-place finish, with Flinchbaugh earning the SAA Men's Coach of the Year recognition.

                This season, Berry will combine a blend of experience and first-year swimmers with the team bringing back six all-conference veterans on the men's team and five women who claimed All-SAA honors.

                Returning for the men after a stellar season last year is junior Noah Brand, who was named to the DIII College Swimming and Diving Coaches of America (CSCAA) All-America team after posting an eighth-place finish at the national championships in the 100-butterfly.

            Brand was also named to the All-SAA first-team and won gold at the conference championships in the event, setting a new school and conference record with a time of 48.8 seconds.

            Also returning is senior captain Riley Croker and senior Tyler Stephenson, who was an all-conference swimmer last year; juniors Ross Valdez – the team's co-captain and an all-conference pick, Alex Bartik and Paxton Smathers; and sophomores Bear Breeze, Hunter Kenny, Ryan MacKinnon, Harrison McNeil and Diego Torres, with Breeze, Kenny and McNeil coming off all-conference performance last year.

            Berry's women also boast swimmers who will be looking to repeat what they accomplished last season, including junior Viola Hasko, who won the 100 and 200 breaststroke at the SAA championships.
 
            Joining her on the starting blocks once again will be senior captain Emma O'Heron and senior all-conference pick Taryn Shanahan; juniors co-captain Hannah Smith (co-captain and an all-conference performer), Grace Pleasant (all-conference), Emma Stewart, Julia Oliver; and sophomore all-conference performer Isabella Decker and sophomore Lexie Crosby.
 
            Flinchbaugh said that he's looking forward to see how the newest group of Vikings who have joined the program will add to the team's strength.
 
            "We had a great group come in," the coach said, "and I think they'll make an impact in the conference. Our goal is to increase the number (of swimmers) who make the national qualifier cuts."