The 2023-24 Kalamazoo College men's swimming and diving team began pre-season workouts last week and will start its season on Oct. 14 by hosting Albion in a dual. The Hornets will look to take another step forward this season after finishing fourth at the MIAA Championships in 2022-23.
Schedule Breakdown
- Five of the first six events will be home duals for Kalamazoo, beginning with Albion on Oct. 14.
- After competing at the MIAA Relays (unscored) on Oct. 20, the Hornets will host Aquinas (Oct. 21), Hope (Oct. 27), Olivet (Oct. 27), and DePauw (Nov. 3).
- The last home contest before winter break will be on Nov. 4, when Kalamazoo hosts Hope, Chicago, and DePauw in a quad.
- To wrap up the 2023 portion of the season, the Hornets will compete at the three-day Wooster Invite from Nov. 30-Dec. 2.
- The first meet back in 2024 is the Michigan-Illinois Quad that will take place at Wheaton, with Hope and Lake Forest also attending, on Jan. 13.
- Kalamazoo will travel to Calvin to take on the Knights and Olivet in two road duals on Jan. 20.
- The regular season will wrap up on Feb. 3, as the Hornets host Alma on a dual.
- The attention will then turn to the MIAA Championships that Hope will host on Feb. 21-24.
Roster Breakdown
- Kalamazoo brings back 14 swimmers and two divers from the 2022-23 season and will add three new members for a total of 19 heading into 2023-24.
- The five seniors will lead a team of nine juniors, two sophomores, and three freshmen.
Returning Statistical Leaders
- Ben Pickrel returns as the top swimmer for the Hornets after finishing fifth in the 100 Back (50.85), fifth in the 200 Back (1:51.46), and sixth in the 400 IM (4:08.66) at the MIAA Championships while also competing with the 200 and 400 Medley Relay teams.
- Zach Butters finished seventh in the 1650 Free (16:58.22) at last year's MIAA Championships and swam in the 200, 400, and 800 Free Relay teams.
- Tim Karubas was a mainstay in the relay events at the MIAA Championships, competing in the 200 Free, 400 Free, 200 Medley, and 400 Medley races.
- The top returning diver is Jose Torres-Rios, who scored 307.45 in the 3-meter and 263.90 in the 1-meter at the MIAA Championships last year.
Head Coach Logan LaBerge
Coach LaBerge enters his second season at the helm of the men's and women's swimming and diving teams here at Kalamazoo. In his first season, LaBerge coached the MIAA Most Valuable Diver in Sam Ankley and saw Camille Misra break two school records. He has had two individuals selected to the All-MIAA Swimming & Diving Teams. Before Kalamazoo, LaBerge was the assistant head coach at Washington and Lee University from 2014-2022. There, the Generals set 76 team records, achieved over 100 NCAA time standards, won two NCAA III individual national championships, and earned a program-record seventh-place national finish in 2017. In addition, as recruiting coordinator, Coach LaBerge has led efforts to recruit 126 student-athletes to the program through last season. He also coached at Mount Union from 2012-2014 and Miami (Ohio) from 2010-12.
Quoting Coach LaBerge
"The men made great strides last year and are poised to make another step this year. With solid leadership at the top and great energy from our members, this group is really attacking training great right now. I am looking forward to seeing what they are capable of!"