Men's Swimming & Diving Season Preview

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The three-year reign as champion of the Little East Conference ended for the Bridgewater State University men's swimming & diving team last winter.

After winning the title every year since entering the conference in the 2021-22 season, the Bears finished third behind Eastern Connecticut State and Maine Maritime Academy in February.

BSU was without its leading swimmer, record-setter Aaron Fowler (Brookline, Mass.), who took part in just the first four meets of the season before being sidelined the rest of the way due to an illness.

Fowler, now a junior, is back for the 2025-26 season and is one of 17 returning swimmers and divers on the Bears' roster.

BSU, with a 24-man roster, has a solid veteran nucleus as it bids to get back to the top of the Little East four months from now.

The Bears begin the season on Saturday morning when they take part in the five-team Roger Williams Invitational in Bristol, R.I.

The team will have nine meets before the Little East Championships get underway in mid-February. The Bears will host the BSU Invitational on Dec. 6, the last meet before the semester break.

"We have a lot of depth in some really strong places," said coach Michael Caruso. "On paper, we're definitely better (than a year ago), but time will tell.

"They're pretty determined (to win a title), but I don't think we're making it the end-all, be-all. I think what we've learned over the years that there's more than just the talent that's going to carry us. Health is a big factor and sometimes it's just luck. It's all about timing and health."

Having Fowler back will give BSU a significant boost after what he did as a freshman in the 2023-24 season.

Fowler was the Little East Swimmer and Rookie of the Year and set individual BSU records in the 50 and 100 freestyle and the 50, 100, and 200 individual medley. He was also on the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams that set Bears' records.

Last season, Fowler won two events in each of the first four meets before an illness brought an end to his sophomore year.

"It's huge having him back," said Caruso. " It offers us strength in our relays and with his individual events, he's just a dominant force in the water."

In Fowler's absence, transfer student Desmond Ng (Petaling Jaya, Malaysia) emerged to lead the Bears and now enters his senior season.

Ng, who came from Sacramento State to BSU, set Little East Championship meet records in the 200 breaststroke (2:05.26) and the 200 backstroke (1:58.01) while also finishing second in the 400 individual medley.

"He was our No. 1 swimmer for the most part," said Caruso. "He gives us such high-end talent in the breaststroke and the IM.

"With him and Aaron, they give us punch in our lineup and will dictate how our championship season will go."

Junior Jirat Saengthong (Watertown, Mass.) was a productive swimmer in the butterfly and freestyle events.

"Jirat has been our freestyle sprinter extraordinaire," said Caruso. "He's held that down for a couple of years. We anticipate he'll take a really big step."

Seniors Ryan McKenzie (Charlton, Mass.), in the breaststroke, and Richard Palanza (Mansfield, Mass.), in the butterfly and freestyle, are back for a final season.

"Those two have been here four years and have been the backbone of the team,'' said Caruso.

Senior Robbie Soucy (Frye Island, Maine) returns after being named the Little East Rookie Diver of the Year in his first season a year ago.

"He'll add some important points for us," said Caruso.

There are six freshmen on the roster, and Caruso said that Kaua Deassis (Vineyard Haven, Mass.), James Hein (Holliston, Mass.) and Wilco Zbitnoff (Haverhill, Mass.) "are all strong in their individual events and should be the new backbone of the team moving forward."