BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Roadrunner men's swimming and diving team does not have wait any longer as the start of the 2017-18 season has arrived. CSU Bakersfield is headed to Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 6, to kick off the season with one of its toughest challenges of the season: the Trojans of Southern California.

Chris Hansen, CSUB's Director of Swimming and Diving, welcomes the challenge of facing a Top 25 ranked team and is excited about the season ahead: "Starting off by competing against one of the best teams in the country is exactly how we want to start. We get faster by swimming the best. UNLV, Hawai'i, and Pacific are going to be our toughest meets this season, but this team is so hungry and talented that I think we are going to shock these schools."

Hansen believes that the 2017-18 squad is prepared for a big year: "This is one of the most dynamic teams I have coached in my 26 years of coaching. They are a super close and supportive bunch of brothers. In 2009, my first recruiting class was ranked by CollegeSwimming.com as one of the best recruiting classes in the country. I truly believe this year's class can match that 2009 class."

Highlighting the incoming `Runners are freshmen Kris Rogic and Ethan Trieu, both of whom have US Open and US Nationals cuts. "Those guy will play a big part in our climb up the WAC ladder," Hansen said. "Ryan Brimer, Adam Estrella, and Loren Gillilan are also going to play a big role in our success." Rogic, a native of Croatia, is also coming off a great summer competing at the European Junior Championships in Israel.

CSUB's Head Coach went on to talk about the veterans that will lead the way for the younger members of the team: "Having seniors Matt Ramos, Mario Vasquez, Steven Valiente, Lovre Soric, and Joe Cobarrubias lead my team definitely makes me feel confident. These men are warriors."

Hansen also talked about some of his top returners' most recent accomplishments: "Jake and Lovre are coming off a great summer after competing in New York at the US Open and will help lead the team to what I think will be our highest ranking at the WAC Championships. Owen van Krimpen and Justice Kramer were big point scorers last year and will need to continue to dominate in both dual meets and the WAC. Mario, Joe, and Greg Lee will also bring WAC experience and help guide this young team."

Friday's season-opening meet is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in Los Angeles, Calif. The Trojans are coming off a 2016-17 season in which USC finished ranked No. 13 in the nation. Results will be made available late Friday evening.

~GoRunners.com~