SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Winter is here, as the Skidmore College men's and women's swimming and diving teams begin the season with a North Country trip to St. Lawrence and Potsdam this weekend.
 
Skidmore will take on St. Lawrence on Friday at 4 p.m., ending the weekend with Potsdam on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
Skidmore returns a bunch of talent from last year's group. For the men, Harrison Shockley, a school record-holder in the 100-yard backstroke, and 200- and 400-yard medley relay, returns for his senior season. He will look to once again take the podium in the Liberty League Championships, after finishing second in the 100-meter backstroke with an aforementioned record time of 52.05. Fellow senior Hiro Kamei also took the podium, finishing fifth in the league championship meet in the 100-yard breaststroke with a school-record time of 58.51. Senior Lucas Po also looks to repeat a podium trip, finishing fifth last season in the grueling 1,650-yard freestyle.
 
Juniors Kinser Bonner, Daryl Kwan, and Carl Mellqvist look to have breakout seasons after solid showings in last year's championship meet. Sophomore Andrew Klein is Skidmore's lone male diver, but he looks to have a great sophomore season after a solid effort as a freshman.
 
For the women, junior Elizabeth Levy looks to lead the team after an eighth-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly. Earlier last season, she set the school record in the same event at the Don Richards Invitational, a time of 2:13.91. Levy is also part of a record-winning 400-yard medley relay team, along with fellow junior Meredith Wagner and senior Claire Stetten. Wagner also holds records in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke, while Wagner and Stetten both claim a record in the 200-yard medley relay.
 
Skidmore saw great effort from its freshman class last season, and they will look to repeat that success in their sophomore season. Olivia Frechette earned a podium spot in the league championships last season, finishing in fifth in the 100-yard freestyle. Emily Favreau and Olivia Czelusniak joined Frechette and Levy on the Skidmore freestyle relay teams and will look to have a bigger impact this season.
 
On the boards, junior Hannah Krall, Skidmore's record-holder on the 3-meter platform (11-dive score), has eyes on her first berth to the NCAA Regional Championships. Fellow junior Rachel Adamsky and newcomer Cianna Stovall join Krall on the boards, with Adamsky looking to breakout this season after a solid league championship showing.
 
Nine freshmen on the women's side and three on the men's side join the Thoroughbreds this season. They will look to make an instant impact.
 
The Thoroughbreds will compete in nine regular season events, including seven dual meets. Skidmore will host four meets this season at the Williamson Sports Center, including the annual Skidmore Sprint Invite on Feb. 2. The home opener for the Thoroughbreds is Nov. 10, when Skidmore takes on Union at 1 p.m.