NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Optimism is high as the Yale men's swimming and diving team gets set to kick off 2021-22. The Bulldogs open the season on Saturday at Columbia at 1 p.m. at Percy Uris Natatorium.
 
The Bulldogs feature a deep and talented roster that includes Michael Blank, Philippe Marcoux and Joseph Page, who all earned All-America recognition as part of Yale's 200 freestyle relay in 2020.
 
Yale also has five swimmers who took part in the United States Olympic Trials last June – Connor Lee, Calvin Yang, Jed Jones, Michael Blank and Greg Kalin.
 
In addition, Marcoux qualified for the Canadian Olympic Trials.
 
Leading the team is captain Nathan Stern, an experienced freestyler who was part of the 400 free relay that finished third at the 2019 Ivy League Championships.
 
Columbia will be swimming its third meet of the season. The Lions opened with a 157-143 victory at Penn last weekend and are at Princeton on Friday night.
 
Yale's first two meets are on the road. The Bulldogs are at Brown next Friday before hosting Southern Connecticut on Dec. 9 at Kiphuth Pool.