BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech men’s and women’s swimming teams have announced captains for the upcoming 2016-17 season.
The men’s swimming captains will be the rising senior trio of Brandon Fiala, Zach Switzer and Robert Owen. The women’s swimming captains will be rising seniors Caroline Buscaglia, Maggie Gruber and Fiona Donnelly.
“We are very excited about the leadership for next season as voted on by the team and confirmed by the coaches. This rising senior class will be a very special one as they have all emerged as great role models for our team. The six senior swimmers selected are ready for the challenge and the diving leadership will be confirmed this fall,” said head coach Ned Skinner.
Fiala just wrapped a season in which he earned three All-American honors at the 2016 NCAA Championships. He was also named the 2016 ACC Championships Most Valuable Men’s Swimmer after winning two gold medals and a silver while breaking two ACC meet records.
Owen was an Honorable Mention All-American for the third time in his career after earning the honors in the 200 back. Owen also defended his gold medal in the 400 IM at the ACC Championships. Switzer made the A final in the 400 IM at the ACC Championships and earned the team 22 points.
Fiala and Switzer were also named to the 2015-16 All-ACC Academic Men’s Swimming and Diving Team with Fiala being named the ACC Men’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
For the women, Gruber was a member of the Honorable Mention All-American 400 medley relay team at the 2016 NCAA Championships. Gruber was also named to the 2015-16 All-ACC Academic Women’s Swimming and Diving Team. Donnelly swam at the NCAA Championships in the 800 free relay and also earned 16 points at the ACC Championships in the 200 back.
Buscaglia held the honor of the Virginia Tech Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the highest GPA for women’s swimming and diving. She was a member of the winning 200 medley relay team for the Hokies in a dual meet against UMBC and Gardner-Webb.
Swimming news courtesy of Virginia Tech Swimming & Diving.