The McMaster Marauders finished last season sixth overall in the men’s rankings at the CIS Championships, and took a big hit to their roster following the meet with a few of their stars using up all five years of eligibility.
Head coach Andrew Cole is recruiting hard to fill some of the gaps, and has put together what seems like a very strong freshman class to guide the team in years to come.
Michael Min – ETOBICOKE SWIM CLUB
Michael Min is a very solid pickup for the Marauders. His versatility is great for the team considering that he can swim almost every stroke well.
Min’s specialties are the freestyles. At the Canadian Team Trials this year he swam the 800m freestyle (8:31.921), 50m breaststroke (30.18), and the 1500m freestyle (16:32.84). 
His times there reflect his expertise in the freestyle events. He’s a bit better short course where his 100 free is a 51.85, his 200 a 1:51.86, his 400 a 3:59.47 and his 1500 a 15:52.49.
He swims a solid 1:07.35 long-course 100m breaststroke and can throw down solid times in the backstroke and fly events as well.
Min will likely be a top candidate for the 4×200 freestyle relay in years to come.
Kenny MacKenzie – Golden Horshoe Aquatic Club
“I chose McMaster for its innovative Bachelor of Technology Program and its proven track record for producing outstanding swim teams.”
Kenny MacKenzie is another swimmer who will be a great training partner for the breaststrokers. MacKenzie is a 
breaststroker through and through with some decent freestyle times as well.
At the Canadian Team Trials MacKenzie swam the sprint breaststrokes dropping a 1:07.32 in the 100 and a 30.08 in the 50.
Those were both best times for MacKenzie who has shown a very consistant progression of improvement throughout his career. He can swim a 29.13 short-course 50m breaststroke and a 1:03.76 short-course 100.
His 50m fly is fairly fast as well. He swam a short-course 26.71 this past December in Point-Claire.
MacKenzie will look to be leading the charge of the new breaststrokes on the team and start to look at filling the gap Konrad Bald left in the breaststroke events.
Mitchell Muizelaar – MISSISSAUGA AQUATIC CLUB
“I chose McMaster because balance is really important in my life. After my recruiting trip there, I came to realize that the program was really made with the individual in mind. It seemed to me like the perfect place to realize both my academic and athletic goals, and that’s why I’m excited to swim for Mac next season.”
Mitchell Muizelaar is another swimmer who dabbles into the distance freestyle events like Min. He swam successfully at this past summer’s Canadian Age Group championships with his best finish being 15th place in the 1500.
In that race Muizelaar was a 17:01.13. He also swam the 100 free and 800 fee at the meet. His 800 was a 9:07.01, his 100 a 55.33.
Since that meet however, Muizelaar has improved a lot. He’s swimming a 4:02.19 short-course 400 freestyle now and dropped his 800 free time to an 8:22.50 short-course. He’s almost in the 15-minute range in the 1500 now, going a 16:02.52 short-course.
Muizelaar is in a very similar range to Min and will prove to be a great training partner when they arrive in Hamilton this fall.
Gabriel Sacco – Etobicoke Swim Club
“When I went to McMaster on my first recruiting trip I instantly fell in love with the people, the coaches, and in general the place. But I must say what really sold me on McMaster was Andrew Cole, he is such a great guy, and I really can’t wait for him to be my coach it will be a great experience for me. “
Gabirel Sacco is for the most part a breaststroke, but puts up some solid times in the medleys as well.
In the 50m breaststroke, Sacco is a 30.39. He hasn’t bettered that time since he set it in June of 2013. McMaster might be 
the difference maker in getting under that time once again.
His 100m breaststroke stands at a 1:08.07 from July of 2013 with his 100 short-course being a 1:03.97. In short-course meters, Sacco has been under 30-seconds in the 50m breaststroke sporting a 29.76.
This past summer at the Canadian Age Group Championships Sacco was a 32.96 in the 50 and a 1:10.25 in the 100. He also swam the 100 freestyle in 54.70.
He’s been making some steady improvements in his sprint freestyle swims. He broke 26-seconds this year in the long-course pool with a 25.95 50m freestyle. He’s a 24.97 short-course.
Mason Lin – Pacific Sea Wolves
Mason Lin is one of the only McMaster recruits from out west, and brings with him such a versatile schedule.
This past summer at the Canadian Age-group Championships Lin was very solid in a whole range of events. His best swim was an 8th place finish in the 200m backstroke where he was a 2:12.35 in finals.
Lin also swam a 4:47.07 400m IM and a 2:12.54 200m IM at the meet. He swam competitive breaststroke times as well, but isn’t primarily a breaststroker.
Lin’s versatility will be very helpful for the team. There are already plenty of good backstrokers and IMers for Lin to train with in Hamilton, and Lin could even possibly throw down with the freestylers. 