Friday, September 26
Lynchburg, VA
5:00 PM
Liberty University Club Sports
vs
University of Lynchburg
Flames swimmers, including sophomore Jonah Rees, are nearing the end of their preseason long-course practice sessions in the Liberty Natatorium. (Photos by Josh Bingaman)
Men’s swimmers excited to open season against cross-town rival Hornets in Natatorium
9/23/2025 4:31:00 PM | Men's Swimming
The Flames have eight newcomers who will test the waters for the upcoming season in Friday’s 5 p.m. men’s and women’s dual meet against NCAA Division III Lynchburg.
"Lynchburg started its men's and women's teams at the same time in 2019-20, and we have been doing something with them ever since," Flames Head Coach Heath Grishaw said.
He expects his swimmers, including a deep class of recruits, to be tested by the Hornets.
"We'll wait and see," Grishaw said, noting Liberty has won the past two meets against UL and the previous two were not scored. "We swim at a high level."
"For me, this meet is never about comparing ourselves against those around us, it's about getting the opportunity to race for the first time, and knocking the rust off," he added. "We are going to open the can for these hungry cats. These guys are show horses. They want to race, and this is the first time we get to let them run. It will be a good old-fashioned, head-down, all-gas, no-brakes, just racing."
"This is our baseline, and we know we've got some work to do between here and April," Grishaw said. "That is why I love this meet, as a way to gather information and to race in our home pool, this beautiful facility that the Lord has blessed us with."
The Flames do have an influx of talent to fill the holes left in their lineup from last season, including three sophomore transfers — Caleb Reno from the University of Cincinnati, JC Gordon from Virginia Tech, and Aiden Hall from St. Bonaventure (N.Y.) University — from NCAA Division I programs and five freshmen who could make an immediate impact.
"This is a rebuild year for us," Grishaw said. "All the guys we brought in have great potential. Still, losing 14 guys is always going to hurt any program, despite who you bring in. Anybody we bring in, there's always a learning curve, and guys who have been on our team have an advantage over those that have just come in, because they know the expectations. They're the vets."
He is working to reduce distractions from outside expectations this season, even after reloading from a third consecutive second-place showing at the College Club Swimming (CCS) National Championships in Mesa, Ariz., last spring.
"This year is going to be something different," Grishaw said. "We have a lot less pressure on ourselves than we ever have. The pressure we have had in the past, when everybody's watching for us to be that national championship-contending team, isn't there. Others see that we've lost a lot of people, and I am trying to take that expectation off, even off of me as a coach, although I know I'm just as hungry as last year to be the best we can be."
He said losing graduate Matt Davidson — who captured his fifth career individual national title (in the 50 backstroke), a second-place finish (100 back), and a third-place showing (100 free in 45.25) and swam a leg on all four of the Flames' runner-up relay teams (200 free, 400 free, 200 medley, 400 medley) — as well as seniors Trent Kolter, Jimmy Blackstone, and Jonah Rhodenizer will difficult to overcome, even with Gordon and Reno up to the challenge.
"At this moment, they're not in top shape yet, not at their prime," Grishaw said. "They will be. I am not worried about that."
The team has endured a month of long-course training out of the Natatorium, which requires pure swimming, and more discipline and focus on technique.
"You can cut some corners on the short course if you are really good on walls and under water," Grishaw said. "If you are strong and powerful off the walls and can rip underwater, you can get around not having the best stroke technique in the water."
"Distance free events-wise, we're covered, by a mile," Grishaw said. "In the other events our talent is more spread out, with one or two guys who are really good at other strokes at certain distances. Me and coach Jordan (Stackpole's) challenge for next year is we've got to hit the recruiting trail hard for next season."
He is cautiously optimistic about the Flames' chances of competing at the regional and national levels nonetheless, after instilling a positive work ethic from the start of practices.
"For the here and now, we want to focus on the things we do have, a good senior group, a lot of good leadership, and we will focus on what we have to do — to get better in the water by spending more time on the black line (following the stripe on the pool floor)," Grishaw said. "The only way to get better in swimming is by spending more time with it."
Team captains this season include seniors Whittman Brown and Nathaniel Dyer, who served in the same role last year, seniors Jeff Serle and Dillon Delaney, and junior Carter Rice.
Liberty will host the Eastern Regional Championships for the third time from Nov. 15-16 and won't have far to travel for the CCS National Championships in April, with Greensboro (N.C.) Aquatic Center winning the bid over the Liberty Natatorium.
"(Friday's) meet is to gather information and to let these guys race and be able to swim at home," Grishaw said, noting he is working on scheduling a Senior "Last Chance" home meet as a means of honoring his graduating swimmers and give them a final opportunity to earn qualifying cuts before nationals. "It's always fun to host, and the regional meet will be the real litmus test, being at home in our pool."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
Players Mentioned
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