With an overflowing energy, strong leadership and a batch of talented underclassmen, the men’s swimming and diving team is ready to turn some heads in the Empire 8 this season.

The South Hill squad looks to build off a successful 2007-08 season, in which it finished third in the state at the Upper New York State Collegiate Swimming Association Championships and second in the Empire 8. This year, the Bombers are shooting higher.

“Our goal every year is to go win the Empire 8 and state championships,” senior freestyler Shane Hamman said. “We would be selling ourselves short not to have that goal with the talent and character our guys have.”

The Bombers’ chances for even greater success this season are bolstered as the college hired its first full-time diving coach, Nate Brisley, this year. The diving squad has increased to five divers and creates the opportunity for more points to be scored in diving events.

Senior diver and captain Andrew Longcore said Brisley has helped bring structure and motivation to the diving team.

“Coach Brisley has remarkable credentials, and he has quickly been able to identify what we need to work on to improve,” Longcore said.

The Bomber veterans are working to create a culture of confidence and pride in the team, and the leadership of the senior class is key.

“Our team’s greatest strength is the ability to bring confidence and energy to the pool deck every time we compete,” senior backstroker and freestyler Mike Ariel said. “We like to bring the attitude that we are better than our competition, because we are.”

Senior captain Mike Blizniak said the seniors try to set an example of dedication to younger swimmers, showing that the six returning seniors bring depth and experience to the team.

The Bombers have already seen success across the classes. Sophomore freestyler Joe Gage, junior butterflyer Matt Carolan, freshman diver Derek Rand, freshman backstroker Jeff Rapp and Ariel have been key in the South Hill squad’s victories against Alfred and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute this year. Freshman freestyler Antoine Connors was named the Empire 8 Player of the Week on Monday.

“We’re a young team with great talent as well as depth in the freshman and sophomore classes,” Hamman said. “Any success we have this season we should be able to build upon for the next couple years.”

The team’s close-knit nature has also encouraged the Bombers’ early successes.

“Our greatest strength is the camaraderie that exists between the swimmers and the divers,” Longcore said. “Since we have a different practice time from the swimmers, that camaraderie helps the divers feel like a part of the team, instead of a separate entity.”

The Bombers do have some challenges to overcome to have a successful regular season. They only have three swimmers who specialize in breaststroke.

“It hurts our medley relays, not having a strong breaststroke leg,” Ariel said.

With the Bombers’ depth throughout the classes, the team is certain it will make an impact on the Empire 8 this year and have fun along the way.

“Our team’s ultimate goal is to make it through every obstacle that is thrown at us the best we can as a team, come out knowing we gave it our all and had the time of our lives doing it,” Ariel said.