BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Lynn University men's and women's swimming teams enter the 2026-27 season looking to build on a historic year while combining a strong group of returning NCAA performers with an impactful class of newcomers.

The Fighting Knights open the season at the McCusker Pool Complex on Saturday, Oct. 3 against Sunshine State Conference opponent Nova Southeastern at 10:00 a.m., beginning a schedule that will eventually lead Lynn to the SSC Championships in February and NCAA Championships in March.

For head coach Niki Alvarez, however, success this season will not simply be measured by trying to duplicate last year's results.

"My expectations for a team are different every year because the team is different every year," Alvarez said. "An expectation I always have is that we are getting better throughout the season." 

Alvarez enters the new season with a young roster and believes there is significant room for growth across both teams. She also noted that the swimmers have already established ambitious goals for themselves heading into competition.


MEN'S OUTLOOK:
The Lynn men enter the season following the best NCAA Championship finish in program history after placing fifth nationally with 260 points last spring.

That historic showing was headlined by Maurice Grabowski, who delivered one of the most decorated championship performances in Lynn swimming history.

Grabowski captured four individual national championships in the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle while setting Sunshine State Conference records in all four events. He also joined Max Tsyfarov, Vitaly Kostin and Enzo

Constable to capture the national championship in the 200 medley relay with an NCAA Division II-record time of 1:24.15. 

Grabowski was later named the CSCAA Division II Men's Swimmer of the Year. 

Replacing that level of production will require contributions throughout the roster. 

"When you have somebody like that who's so good at so many things, the best you can do is try to replace them with multiple individuals," Alvarez said. 

Alvarez expects Lynn to attack the challenge by developing swimmers across the butterfly, backstroke and sprint freestyle events rather than asking one athlete to replace everything Grabowski provided. 

Tsyfarov returns for his senior season after an outstanding junior campaign. He finished runner-up nationally in both the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke and was a member of Lynn's national championship 200 medley relay team. Alvarez has also seen Tsyfarov take on a larger leadership role entering his final season. 

"I'm really proud of the leadership role that he's taken on the team," Alvarez said. "I also see a high level of motivation in him this year to go out well in his last year." 

Brady Moore is another returner Alvarez expects to take a significant step forward. 

Moore contributed to Lynn's relay groups last season and enters the year with an opportunity to become a larger factor in the freestyle events. Alvarez said Moore looked strong following the summer and believes his season alongside Grabowski helped motivate him heading into 2026-27. 

The men's newcomers will also play an important role. 

Vinicius Marinho is expected to strengthen Lynn's sprint freestyle group, while Mike Topchanalis will contribute in the 100 butterfly and sprint freestyle events. George Fykatas gives the Fighting Knights additional depth in the 200 backstroke. 

Lynn also added three freshmen whom Alvarez expects to strengthen the distance group. 

Paolo Agogeri, Ethan Coggin and Ethan Potter will provide depth from the 500 freestyle through the 1,000 and mile, an area Alvarez identified as a need for the Fighting Knights following last season. 

"I think that part of the program, from the 500 to the 1000 to the mile, will be strong with those three new freshmen," Alvarez said. 

WOMEN'S OUTLOOK: 

The Lynn women return considerable NCAA experience after producing eight All-Americans last season. 

Lydia Douthit, Luz Tapia, Mariele De Santis and Ally Webster were among the individual NCAA qualifiers discussed by Alvarez as a core group the Fighting Knights will continue to build around. 

Douthit earned First Team All-American recognition in both butterfly events last season, placing fourth nationally in the 100 butterfly and eighth in the 200 butterfly. 

Tapia also collected a pair of First Team All-American honors, finishing seventh in the 200 freestyle and eighth in the 100 freestyle. 

De Santis earned Second Team All-American recognition in three individual events, competing in the 200 individual medley, 400 individual medley and 200 backstroke. 

Webster also gained valuable NCAA Championship experience while contributing to Lynn's relay groups. 

Lily Drons and Krystina Zavalaga return after competing as part of Lynn's relay contingent at nationals. Alvarez said both have goals of qualifying individually this season while continuing to make an impact on the Fighting Knights' relays. 

Malaika Schneider also returns after earning Second Team All-American honors in the 100 breaststroke and contributing across multiple relay events last season. 

Beyond results in the pool, Alvarez highlighted senior Alexis Mihok as an important leader for a team featuring a large group of newcomers. 

"Her leadership is really important to the team," Alvarez said. "She has really taken on the role of a senior leader, and I really appreciate that out of her." 

The women's newcomers will also have opportunities to make an immediate impact. 

Alvarez specifically pointed to Sophia Jorge and Ella Hare as two newcomers she believes can contribute right away in their respective events. 

"I'm excited to see the entire class and how they can step up and perform," Alvarez said. "More specifically, I think Sophia and Ella will be able to make immediate impacts on the program in their events." 

THE ROAD AHEAD: 

The Fighting Knights will be tested immediately. 

Lynn opens the season with three consecutive home meets, beginning with Nova Southeastern on Oct. 3. The Fighting Knights then welcome Barry to the McCusker Pool Complex on Oct. 10 before hosting the Lynn Alumni Meet on Oct. 17. 

The early competition will provide Lynn's newcomers with an immediate introduction to the strength of the Sunshine State Conference. 

"Our conference is such a dogfight all the time from dual meet through nationals," Alvarez said. "They come with a certain level of energy and enthusiasm that I think is important to have no matter who you're racing." 

Lynn's schedule then moves into several important midseason competitions. 

The Fighting Knights travel to the Panther Invite on Oct. 30 before competing in Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 6. Lynn then heads to Indianapolis for the House of Champions beginning Nov. 19. 

For Alvarez, the House of Champions represents an important opportunity to begin securing NCAA qualifying standards before the postseason. 

"That is the goal, to get as many people qualified as possible for nationals at the House of Champions," Alvarez said. "That's really one of the ideas behind a mid-season meet, to try to get relay cuts, if possible, individual cuts if possible, so that we're able to get them before conference." 

The Fighting Knights will also compete at the CSCAA Open Water Nationals on Dec. 12 before closing the calendar year at the Shark Invite on Dec. 18. 

Lynn returns to competition in January with back-to-back meets against Tampa and Florida Southern on Jan. 8-9 before closing the regular season at home against Florida Tech on Jan. 16 and Rollins on Jan. 23. 

Postseason competition begins at the Sunshine State Conference Championships in Clearwater on Feb. 10 before the NCAA Division II Championships begin March 9 in Indianapolis. 

Despite the accomplishments of last season and the goals established by both teams, Alvarez does not want success to be defined solely by a particular place in the standings. 

Instead, she wants to see consistent individual and team progression throughout the season. 

"If, as a team, everybody is improving every season, then I think that helps define a successful season," Alvarez said. "We're improving our racing strategy, we're improving our race plan, and I think if we do those things, then we improve on our times." 

UP NEXT: 

The Fighting Knights open the 2026-27 season on Saturday, Oct. 3 when Lynn hosts Nova Southeastern at the McCusker Pool Complex at 10:00am