New Paltz, NY – The State University of New York at New Paltz Hawks swimming program will begin its competition season Saturday in Elting Pool. 
 
The Hawks will host Union and Kean in their Breast Cancer Awareness Meet and their first meet of the 2024-25 season. Prior to Saturdays match up, SUNY New Paltz competed in the non-scoring Hartwick relays Oct 13. Non-scoring relays are a great way for athletes who are new to the NCAA to acclimate to the college atmosphere as well as give coaches a chance to try different athletes in new events. 
 
Returning for SUNY New Paltz this season are multiple top 16 finishers and all-conference selections. The senior class is strong this year with Venn Engstorm, Steven Macaluso, Paul Castner, Xavier Calderon, Samuel Debbie, Kaylee Gallagher, Chloe Jeffares, Abigail Keiser, Naomi Levey and Candela Sandoval back on the blocks for their final year. 
 
Engstorm, the sprint freestyler and breaststroker, finished fourth overall last spring in the 100-breast, touching the pads with a time of 58.19. He was a key leg in both the 400- and 200-yard medley relay, both earning silver at the conference meet.
 
Macaluso, who specializes in sprint freestyle and butterfly, looks to climb the ladder. After earning silver with Engstorm in both medley relays the men look to climb to the gold. Macaluso has been battling for gold in the 100-yard butterfly since a freshman. Back in 2022 he finished third with a time of 51.69. In 2024 Macaluso touched in second with a time of 50.93. He dropped six tenths of a second earning third in the conference last season with a time of 50.87.
 
After placing in the top 12 each year for the 200-yard butterfly Sandoval looks to keep to the top eight for her final season. Sandoval finished 10th in the 200-fly her freshman year with a time of 2:23.89. She placed 12th her sophomore year, adding two seconds to her time but battled back junior year breaking top eight, in eighth with a time of 2:22.36 securing vital points for the Hawks in the conference meet. 
 
SUNY New Paltz is also returning a couple of key players from the junior class, which is comprised of Chris Bernstein, Ollie Trzcinski, Antonio Vavalle and Molly Snyder.
 
Vavalle, the distance freestyler, looks to hold his own this season hopefully earning a Second-Team All-SUNYAC honor. In 2023 Vavalle finished third in the 1,650 with a time of 16:47.19, fifth in the 500 (4:43.40) and seventh in the 200 (1:45.43). He was also a key player in the third place 400-yard medley relay, and both the fourth place 400-yard freestyle and 800-yard freestyle relays. In 2024 Vavalle was a crucial leg of the second placed 400-yard medley relay and the third place 800-yard freestyle relay. He placed fourth in a very fast year for the 1650 with a time of 16:40.16 and secured two sixth place finishes in both the 500 (4:46.13) and 200-yard freestyle (1:44.61).
 
 
The sophomore class is stacked with multiple top eight finishers and point scorers. Alex Gorzula, Jack Samko, Jack Wirth, Erin Donovan, Abigail Dusseault and Sage Vadney will return for their second year in the water joined by transfers Hayden Brock and Gabrielle Etnel.
 
Gorzula is back and has his sights set high. After finishing his first year with a bronze medal in both the 200 breast (2:09.10) and the 400-yard individual medley (4:11.56), Gorzula looks to keep in the top three and climb with both competitors in front of him out of the conference or out of eligibility.
 
Samko and Wirth also look to climb in the conference after finishing in the top eight their freshman year. Samko earned seventh in both the 100 (52.23) and 200-yard butterfly (1:58.83). Wirth earned second in both the 200 and 400-yard medley relays. He touched fourth in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 52.09 and seventh in the 200back with a time of 1:58.95.
 
Donovan placed ninth in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:40.38 earning needed points for the team, keeping them ahead of the Oneonta Red Dragons on day four of the Championship meet. Dusseault earned points as well, earning sixth place in the 1650 with a time of 18:55.24 and seventh overall with a time of 5:26.74 in the 500. Vadney was also a key swimmer for the Hawks last season touching tenth in the 200back with a time of 2:17.56.
 
The Hawks will welcome a plethora of freshman to the roster for this upcoming season. Diego Burgos, Luke Caroll, Lorenzo Gutierrez, Dylan Nuzzi, Sophia Bucci, Sarina Buono, Celia Dominguez, Jayme Fink, Jade Fontanez, Brianna Law and Anabella Perez Salvi will look to make a splash in the pool this season. 
 
After the tri-meet this weekend the Hawks will host Adelphi in their Green out Game on Nov. 1st. To read more about the Hawks upcoming meets and season schedule click here. 

To check out the full men's schedule click here, to check out the women's swim schedule; click here.

Swimming Season Preview Featuring Chloe Jeffares & Jack Samko


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