MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Montevallo men's and women's swimming teams are set to open the 2025-26 season on Saturday, Oct. 11, when they travel to Tennessee to compete in the Sewanee Relays.
Head coach Lori Riegler enters her second season at the helm of the Falcons' swimming programs. The men's roster features three seniors, while Keara McGee serves as the lone senior for the Montevallo women.
In the Conference Carolinas Preseason Coaches Poll, the Falcons' men were projected to finish third after a runner-up finish a season ago. On the women's side, Montevallo was also picked third following last year's third-place finish.
The Falcons have been in full preparation mode since August. "It includes a lot of working on your weaknesses," said senior Ben Johnson about preseason training. "We are hitting the volume hard right now."
Montevallo welcomes several key newcomers on both sides. For the men, freshman Xoel Parcero Areoso and Edu Elizaran Galan were both named to the Conference Carolinas Players to Watch list. Elizaran Galan, a transfer from King, earned four All-Conference Carolinas honors last season as a freshman.
"Denis (Popov) is going to be a threat in anything you put him in," said Johnson. "I'm excited to see Xoel's breaststroke, and Edu was a conference champion in the 200-yard backstroke last year."
On the women's side, freshman Vanina Loriedo headlines a talented group of newcomers as she joined McGee and reigning Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year Alexandria Morgan on the league's Players to Watch list.
"Vanina is definitely someone to watch for," said McGee. "She's been a really good racing partner, and I'm excited to see her race this season."
The Falcons also return a strong core of veterans poised to take another step forward. Senior Aleksei Kolesnikov returns after reaching the NCAA National Championships in back-to-back seasons, while Johnson highlighted Knox St. Amant and Enrique Llorens as returners to look out for.
For the women, McGee pointed to Alexandria Morgan as a key returner to watch. "She had a really good year last year, and I know she's going to do even better this year."
With much of last season's lineup returning, both squads are set up for a promising year ahead. "We're all so close," Johnson added. "It's an individual sport, but we all feed off each other's energy. It's really good when everyone is locked in and being great teammates."
"We're like a family," said McGee. "We're all really excited to see each other do well."
The Falcons will make their home debut on Oct. 25 against UT Southern, before hosting Berry College on Nov. 8 and celebrating Senior Day on Jan. 24 against Millsaps.
Saturday's meet at the Sewanee Relays is set for 1:00 p.m. and will be streamed live here.
