BOSTON, Mass. -- Simmons Swimming & Diving is set to open their 2012-2013 season this weekend at Westfield State at 1:00 p.m. The Sharks will look to defend their 2012 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Swimming & Diving Champions title and continue to build upon their great success of last season with strong returners and twelve newcomers who will add depth to the roster.

Last season, the Sharks recorded their best dual meet record in years, finishing with 8 wins and 4 losses. During the middle of the season, the team made a significant shift in focus, which allowed for many of the athletes to achieve lifetime best performances in December and January. The Sharks utilized their confidence and translated it into fast swimming, finishing 11th of the 23 teams and breaking five school records at the New England Championship in February.

Returning for the Sharks this season this season is 2011-2012 GNAC Rookie of the Year, Chloe Davis (Merrimack, N.H.), who won 13 individual events, was a member of the 8 record-breaking relays, and achieved NEISDA A-qualifying standards in all specialties as a freshman. C. Davis was also the GNAC Champion in the 200 Back and finished 14th in the 50 Back at the New England Championship.

Joining C. Davis, is senior Molly Bohannon (Westbrook, Conn.) will continue to lead the Sharks in the distance disciplines and junior Amy Davis (Southbury, Conn.), who scored 229 individual points in 2011-2012. A. Davis was also a member of the 8 record-breaking relays and who 11 individual events, primarily in Fly and Free.

Jen Collins (Trumbull, Conn.) will return for her junior year after setting two individual school records last season in the 100 Free and 100 IM. Collins broke the GNAC record by close to three seconds in the 200 Free and finished in the top-eight in all three of her individual events at the New England Championship, including a first place finish in the 100 IM. Collins was the GNAC Champion in the 50, 100, and 200 Free events and won 18 individual events during the 2011-2012 season.

The Sharks graduated four seniors and will feel the gap, especially in the backstroke events. The squad will welcome 12 new faces to the roster including Kevyn Lee (New York, N.Y.), a distance swimmer with experience, Maddie McDonald (Westwood, Mass.) and Jamie Rose (Kingman, Ariz.), who will each add depth to the sprint events, and Criosanna Allred (Spartanburg, S.C.) who will find her niche in the breaststroke events. "The class of 2016 brings depth and talent in all events, including diving. This is a very versatile and dedicated group of rookies and I'm sure they will energize the team when our competition season gets underway at the end of October," said Head Coach Mindy Williams.

Simmons will compete in five dual meets prior to the GNAC Championship held on December 1st and 2nd at Simmons College. "The team is returning to the pool this fall with more confidence than ever before. Coming off a successful season, where momentum was gained with every meet, I think the team is eager to raise the bar," said Williams.