TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's swimming & diving team begins its 2023-24 season vs. Oakland in Rochester, Mich. this Friday, Oct. 13 with high hopes for a breakthrough season.

The Rockets have been awaiting their return to the pool and have a strong group of veterans to lead the way this year. Head Coach Brie Globig welcomes back 17 swimmers and five divers, including second-team All-MAC honorees Lauren Kilgore and Kennedy Lovell, as well as an impressive array of newcomers.

Globig has high hopes for this season, not only from the talent in the pool but for the passion and winning mindset of her squad.

"I feel this could be a monumental year for the program," said Globig, now in her fifth season leading the Rockets. "Everyone has bought in. Everyone is on board. We are all working towards the same goals, and I cannot wait to see what takes place."

Globig believes the combination of the incoming class, transfers, and returners will result in a very successful season.

"Our new class has already had a huge impact on the program," Globig said. "Their talent, energy, and love for Toledo has brought an amazing dynamic to an already strong group. This group, combined with our strong returners, is setting the program up for a very successful year."

Globig brought in seven new swimmers to the roster, including junior transfer Faith Sill (Northern Michigan). Second-year diving coach Gabby Han added freshman Anna Gasser to the squad, giving Toledo six divers on its roster.

The Rockets also welcome a new assistant coach Noah Frederick, who was an all-conference swimmer specializing in breaststroke at Edinboro (Pa.).

Toledo's home schedule is highlighted by the Battle of I-75 dual with Bowling Green on Saturday, Nov. 4, and a tri-meet with the Falcons and 2022-23 MAC Champions Buffalo on Friday-Saturday, Feb. 2-3.

Ohio will host the 2023-24 Mid-American Conference Championships on Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 28-March 2 at the Ohio Aquatic Center.

The following is a brief look at the 2023-24 team.

Diving
Seniors Ryli Harden and Madison Giglio return as the seniors of the diving group. Giglio qualified for the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships last season and finished 12^th on the three-meter and 15^th on the one-meter. She was also named CSC Academic All-District and CSCAA Second-Team Scholar All-American. Harden's highest finish last season was runner-up with a PR of 260.78 in the three-meter at the Toledo tri-meet. Harden and Giglio are joined by junior Kassie Gutierrez, sophomores Amanda Dosey and Annie Bartlett, and freshman Anna Gasser.

Backstroke
Sill will make an impact as the lead in the backstroke group. She and freshman Gracie Pardue will add depth to returners junior Madeline Blakely and sophomore Paula Pavillard-Salvador.

Breaststroke
Freshman Leah Gentry-Tuney will help lead the breaststroke group alongside junior Alicia Zarzo-Ramirez, who was part of the 400 medley relay team that took seventh at the 2023 MAC Championships. 

Butterfly
The butterfly group has three seniors returning to the starting blocks – Kilgore, Sydney Conrad, and Morgan Schuld. Kilgore received All-MAC honors for her seven podium finishes at the 2023 MAC Championships and had 30 top-10 finishes last season, including six individual wins and three relay wins in eight meets. Conrad was on the 200 medley relay team that took seventh at the conference championships, while Schuld has 10 top-10 finishes in seven meets. Freshman Leah Evans could rank very high in all butterfly events this year, and will also swim backstroke.

Freestyle
The largest group of the team, the freestyle swimmers welcome back 10 specialists – seniors Lovell, Jovana Duric, and Nejla Karic, juniors Lucie Morris, Molly Pressler, Caitlin Heinze, Lindsey Creek, and Annabelle Haberkorn, and sophomore Janne Slegers. Lovell received All-MAC honors and had six podium finishes at the 2023 MAC Championships. Duric won nine events in six meets and Karic was part of the sixth-place 800 freestyle relay team at the conference meet. Freshmen Mackenzie Carter, Clarke Doyle, and Sarah Kate Glosson will swim with the freestyle and backstroke groups.

Follow the Rockets
Be sure to follow the Rockets' women's swimming & diving team on social media:

• Twitter: ToledoSwimDive
• Instagram: toledoswimdive & toledodiving
• Threads: toledoswimdive
• Facebook: Toledo Swim Dive