Women's Swimming and Diving | 10/17/2024 9:59:42 AM
Nazareth University will look to win its seventh consecutive Empire 8 title, as the 2024-25 women’s swimming and diving season is underway. SUNY Brockport and SUNY Geneseo join Alfred University, Hartwick College and Nazareth this season. The 2024-25 Empire 8 Championship will take place at the Webster Aquatic Center from Wednesday, Feb. 19-Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.
Fans can watch the action all season long, free of charge on the
Empire 8 Network.
2024-25 Empire 8 Women's Swimming and Diving Athletes to Watch
(Sorted by Name)
Ellen Burroughs, Nazareth, So., Freestyle, Aurora, NY/Southern Cayuga – Burroughs was the 2023-24 Empire 8 Champion in the 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard medley relay and 800-yard medley relay during her first season.
Maureen Derry, Alfred, Sr., Freestyle/Individual Medley/Backstroke, Ashville, NC/Ashville – Derry was among the E8 leaders in the backstroke and was a key contributor in relay events.
Cate Russo, Hartwick, So., Freestyle, San Pedro, CA/San Pedro – Russo was named the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year. She won the Empire 8 title in the grueling 1,650-yard freestyle and was the E8 runner-up in both the 200-and 500-yard freestyle races. She was also part of the winning 200-yard medley relay.
Elizabeth Sagan, SUNY Brockport, Sr., Freestyle, Hamlin, NY/Brockport) – Sagan garnered All-SUNYAC third team honors in the 50-yard freestyle last season. She also was part of the 200-yard medley, 200-yard freestyle, 400-yard freestyle and 800-yard freestyle relay teams that medaled at the SUNYAC Championships.
Alek Sotek, SUNY Geneseo, So., Sprint Freestyle, New Lebanon, NY/New Lebanon – Sotek was a First-Team All-American in the 50-yard freestyle placing fifth at the NCAA championships, breaking her own SUNYAC record. She earned Second-Team All-American honors in the 200-yard freestyle relay. She was also named the 2023-24 SUNYAC Swimmer and Rookie of the Year.
2024-25 E8 Women's Swimming and Diving Team Capsules
(Sorted by 2023-24 Championship Results)
Nazareth
The Golden Flyers are aiming to win their seventh straight Empire 8 Championship in 2024-25. While Nazareth will look to replace All-American Alexa Rizzo, fellow diver Elizabeth Tripp is a two-time Empire 8 Torchbearer Award and is the reigning two-time Empire 8 Diver of the Championship Meet. She is also a three-time Empire 8 diving champion. Sophomore Ellen Burroughs was the 2023-24 Empire 8 Champion in the 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard medley relay and 800-yard medley relay during her first season. Caroline Coleman is a former Empire 8 Champion who is a strong distance freestyle swimmer. Emily LeFrois-Heath transfers in from E8 newcomer SUNY Brockport.
Hartwick
The Hawks will attempt to earn their first Empire 8 Championship this season. The two-time reigning Empire 8 Women’s Swimmer of the Year, Courtney Pierce returns for her junior season. Pierce is a four-time E8 individual champion after claiming back-to-back titles in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard breaststroke. Sophomore Cate Russo was named the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year last season. She won the Empire 8 title in the grueling 1,650-yard freestyle and was the E8 runner-up in both the 200-and 500-yard freestyle races. She was also part of the winning 200-yard medley relay. Senior Amanda Wilbur will also be returning after earning All-E8 accolades. Junior Bree Dy and sophomore Min-Syun Chen are also back after earning multiple All-Empire 8 accolades. Newcomers Jillian Ferrie, Emma Lupe, and Aubrey Vaile will look to step right in and contribute for the Hawks.
Alfred
Alfred will look to contend for the league title in 2024-25. Junior Kamila Roman will be looked at to lead the Saxons this season. She has earned multiple E8 All-Conference finishes in her first two seasons. Sarah Anderson returns after helping the 200-yard freestyle relay win second place at the 2023 E8 Championships. Senior Maureen Derry, in addition to Ali Simmons, Liv Richeda and Eden Vallely will also contend for Alfred. The Saxons bring in an exciting group of newcomers, including Elizabeth Share, Isobel Anderegg, Frankie Gorres, Chloe Basile, and diver Ruby Kavanagh, who will all look to make an impact as the season progresses.
SUNY Brockport
SUNY Brockport will look to in 2024-25 as s first-year member under head coach Zack Wahl. The Golden Eagles won six dual meets and placed third overall at the SUNYAC Championship last season. Senior Elizabeth Sagan is back after garnering All-SUNYAC third team honors in the 50-yard freestyle last season. She also was part of the 200-yard medley, 200-yard freestyle, 400-yard fresstyle and 800-yard freestyle relay teams that medaled at the SUNYAC Championships. Sophomore Miya Vitale is a standout in the backstroke, having shattered the program record in the 200-yard backstroke event last season, while first-year Maddie Erhardt is expected to compete in freestyle events. Junior Emily LeFrois-Heath garnered All-SUNYAC third team honors in the 200-yard individual medley.
SUNY Geneseo
SUNY Geneseo begins its first season as an Empire 8 member in 2024-25 with high expectations after a 24th place team finish at the 2024 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships. The Knights have 21 student-athletes returning, including 2024 All-Americans Alex Sotek, Alise Hale, and Courtney Sorbello. Sotek, a sophomore, was the 2023-24 SUNYAC Swimmer and Rookie of the Year, who placed fifth overall at the NCAA Championships in the 50-yard freestyle. Hale was an All-American in the 100-yard butterfly, placing seventh overall. Emily Thomas, Nina Chicatelli, Hannah Brockman, Abby Funk and Lyda Benjamin are top performers who will vie for Empire 8 and national success this season.
Final 2023-24 Empire 8 Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship Results
Nazareth – 1,066 Points – League Champions
Hartwick – 793
Alfred – 675
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
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