CHESTERTOWN, Md. — The Washington College men's swim team will take to the pool for the 2022-23 season under the direction of second-year head coach Phil Quick, who had the interim tag dropped earlier this year.
Quick's second squad has 18 total swimmers which is composed of one senior, four juniors, nine sophomores and four freshmen.
The team's lone senior is the squad's most decorated swimmer in Gage Mandrell (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township). Mandrell, one of the program's most decorated swimmers holds the school record in the 100 individual medley and 200 freestyle is also in the team's Top 10 in nine other events. He won the silver medal in the 200 backstroke at last year's Centennial Conference Championships. He is projected to see time mostly in freestyle and backstroke events.
Washington has four juniors on the team this winter and they are Jay Dadhania (Hainesport, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional), Bianti Danaj (Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School), Justin Morris (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown Area) and JB Peterson (Media, Pa./Penncrest). Danaj is in the team's all-time Top 10 in four different events, including fourth in the 100 individual medley. He earned points in the 100 butterfly and the 50 and 100 freestyle events at the 2022 Centennial Championships. Dadhania is the program's 10th fastest swimmer all-time in the 100 breaststroke and earned points in the event at last year's conference championships. Morris is 10th all-time at Washington in the 200 backstroke and garnered points in the event at the championships last winter. Peterson is expected to compete primarily in freestyle events this season.
Quick's largest class is the sophomore class which comprises half the squad with nine members. Zach Affeldt (Savage, Minn./Burnsville) had a strong rookie campaign as he set school records in the 200 breastroke and 400 individual medley in 2021-22, winning bronze medals in both events at last year's conference championships. He is also in the team's Top 10 in three other events. Patrick Downes (Newport, Del./Henry C Conrad School of Science) is expected to compete in freestyle events this season. CJ Dunker (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) earned points in the 1650 freestyle at the 2022 Centennial Conference Championships and is sixth all-time in team history in the 1000 and 1650 freestyle events. Justin Fitzpatrick (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum) is expected to swim in freestyle and butterfly events this season. Chase Hensen (Fredericksburg, Va./Colonial Forge) is one of the team's top breaststrokers and is in the Top 10 in both the 100 and 200 breastroke events and the 100 individual medley. He has the second fastest time in the team history in the 100 breaststroke. Andrey Perez (San Juan, P.R./Sts. Peter & Paul [Md.]) is projected to swim in both freestyle and breaststroke events this season. Jack Poleto (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) earned points in the 200 butterfly at the 2022 Centennial Championships and is sixth all-time at the College in the event. William Schmidt (Salisbury, Md./Wicomico) competed in the freestyle, backstroke and individual medley events in 2021-22 and is ninth all-time in the 100 Individual Medley. Grayson Wright (Haddonfield, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep) is seventh all-time at WC in the 200 butterfly and earned points in the event at the conference championships. Wright is also a member of the sailing team.
The four freshmen are Joey Bond (Middletown, Del./Middletown), Shane Brace (Hershey, Pa./Hershey), Connor Kravitz-Yoffee (Fallston, Md./Fallston) and Liam Peregoy (Worton, Md./home school).
Quick is joined on the Shoremen's coaching staff by second-year assistant coaches Kyle Fraser-Mines and Jake Brown. They will guide the Shoremen through a challenging schedule culminating with the 2023 Centennial Conference Championships in late February.
2022-23 Washington College Men's Swimming Schedule Breakdown
Season and Centennial Opener: October 22 at Gettysburg with Dickinson (12:00 p.m.)
Home Opener: November 12th versus McDaniel (1:00 p.m.)
Centennial Home Opponents: Ursinus (1/21)
Centennial Road Opponents: Gettysburg, Swarthmore (10/29), Franklin & Marshall (11/28)
Centennial Neutral Opponents: Dickinson at Gettysburg
Non-Conference Home Opponents: None
Non-Conference Road Opponents: Salisbury (11/5), St. Mary's (Md.) (11/19)
Multi-Team Road Meets: Yellow Jacket Invitational, hosted by Randolph-Macon (12/3-4), Centennial Conference Championships, hosted by Gettysburg (2/16-19)
