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PENSACOLA, Fla.- A new era of West Florida Swimming and Diving Team starts on Friday when the Argonauts open their 10^th season as a program against Thomas University, Loyola (New Orleans), and South Georgia State.

ABOUT UWF

The Argonauts ranked No. 10 nationally in the preseason CSCAA Top 25, returning eight NCAA qualifiers from a season ago. The veterans include Stefanie Markwardt, Morgan Mangum, Aimee Patterson, Brooke Dorr, Yael Danieli, and Brooke Simila.

West Florida adds 17 newcomers to the roster including 14 freshmen and 3 transfers.

It will be the season debut for the divers as well with returners Daniela Reyes and Michelle Mejia, who competed in the NCAA Diving Championships last March.

Last February, the Argonauts seized their third straight New South Collegiate Swim Conference Championship and look to continue that success as they start the 2022-23 season campaign. This season marks the 10^th season as a program and will be Phil Kraus's fifth year as head coach of the Argonauts.

ABOUT THOMAS

The Night hawks from Thomasville, Ga. finished the 2021-22 season with a 2-2 record and placed fifth in the Sun Coast Conference Championship.
Last season, four Nighthawks were recognized on the NAIA All-American team including Maggie Davis, Hope McNair, Kyndall Cardoso, and Chardonay Tophia. Davis competed in the butterfly events, McNair primarily competed in freestyle events and Cardoso's strength was the individual medley races while Tophia was balanced in all events.

Don Feinburg is in his fourth season as the head coach at the helm of the Night hawk swimming and diving program. Feinburg brings in 40-plus years of coaching experience. Under Feinburg's reign, he has had 71 wins as a men's head coach and 89 wins as a women's head coach.

HISTORY

The Argonauts are on a six-meet win streak against the Night hawks. The meet against Thomas was cancelled last season due to COVID-19 protocols.
In the 2019-20 season, UWF won 160-49 with stand-out performances by Ester Rizzetto, Caitlin Tierney, and Morgan Ayers. The Argonauts had the top three times in the 100 Breaststroke and the 200 Butterfly to win the meet.

ABOUT LOYOLA (NEW ORLEANS)

The No. 7 Loyola University New Orleans women's swim team wrapped up the NAIA National Championships placing 13th nationally with 89 total points. Freshman Mya Baker was named NAIA All-American after a stellar performance in the 1650 freestyle race. Baker swam a 17:50.34 to place seventh in the race. She joined teammate Eve Thomas, who also earned All-American status in the 2021-22 season.

Thomas Natal captured his first Mid-South Conference Women's Coach of the Year award for the 2021-22 season. Natal is in his sixth season as head coach of the Wolf Pack.

HISTORY

In their last meet against the Wolf Pack in 2019, the Argonauts pulled away, outscoring Loyola 157-69. UWF has won the past four meets against Loyola since 2016.

ABOUT SOUTH GEORGIA STATE

The Hawks open the 2022-23 season campaign with the meet on Friday. South Georgia State Swimming and Diving program consists of three women student-athletes and 14 men student-athletes.

John Jeistner is at the helm of the Hawks Swimming and Diving program.

HISTORY

West Florida is on a four-meet win streak against the Hawks as they enter the meet on Friday.

Friday's meet at the UWF Aquatic Center will begin at 5 p.m. (CT). The men's and women's 1-meter and 3-meter diving events will run simultaneously to swimming. 

The first 100 UWF students will get a free t-shirt with a valid nautilus card. Admission will be free for all fans.

For the latest information on UWF athletics, visit goargos.com or follow UWF Swimming and Diving on social media on Instagram @uwfswimdive or twitter @UWFSwimDive.