NEW YORK — Longtime Columbia men's swim head coach, Jim Bolster, and head diving coach, Scott Donie, announced the addition of 13 first-years ahead of the 2022-23 competition season, on Wednesday. The group features 12 swimmers and one diver from three countries including the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.

"We look forward to welcoming and working with the class of 2026," stated Bolster. "As often is the case with a new class, much of our success will be based on their contributions. We feel we have much potential in this class and we are excited to start working with them."

Isaac Beers
Poulsbo, Wash. | North Kitsap High School | Free

BEFORE COLUMBIA: Swam for four years at North Kitsap High School…WIAA 2A Swimmer of the Year (2022), Washington State Championship Meet…Athletic All-American, 100 back…Set 20 lifetime team records…Holds the 100 free 2A state record (2022).
PERSONAL: Born January 2004…Parents are Karen and Joseph…Has three siblings Eleanor, Evelyn, and Adam…Great-uncle attended Dartmouth…National Merit Scholar…Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish…National Honor Society…Enrolled in Columbia College…Intends to major in Data Science.
 
Lucas Canteros-Paz
Basking Ridge, N.J. | Ridge High School | Fly/Free

BEFORE COLUMBIA: Swam at Ridge High School…NJSIAA Sectional Semifinalists (2019, 2020, 2022)…Team took second in Somerset County Championship (2022)…Second Place, Men's Skyland Conference (2022)…NJ YMCA Silver Cut, 400 IM…NJ Upper Silver Cut, 200 Free, 100 Fly, 400 IM…Fourth, 200 Free Relay, Skyland Championships (2022)…YMCA Storm, 1^st Place 2022 Long Course Nationals…2^nd Place 2022 Short Course YMCA Nationals
PERSONAL:  Born September 2004…Parents are Maria Penna and Gonzalo Canteros-Paz… Has two siblings, Marcos and Norah…National Merit Corporate Scholarship Winner…National Honor Society…National Merit Commended Scholar…America Red Cross Club President (2020-2022)…Fluent in Spanish…AP Scholar with Distinction…Enrolled in the  Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science…Plans to major in Operations Research
 
Samuel Eckert
Tyler, Texas | Tyler Legacy | Free

BEFORE COLUMBIA: Specialized in sprint freestyle at Tyler Legacy High School…Team was back-to-back District 9-6A Champions (2021, 2022)…District 9-6A (MCP) (2022)…First Team All-District (2019, 2021, 2022), First Team All-Region (2021, 2022)…Second Team All-State (2021, 2022)…50 Free District Champion (2022, 2021), 100 Free District Champion (2022, 2021)…200 Free Relay District Champion (2022)…400 Free Relay District Champion (2022, 2021)…200 Medley Relay District Champion (2021)…NISCA All-American, 400 Free Relay (2021, 2022)…NISCA All-America, 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free Relay (2022)…Second Team All-Region (2019)…Competed at the 2022 Summer Junior Nationals…Raced at the 2021 Winter Junior Nationals.
PERSONAL: Born April 2004…Son of Elicia and Scott…Has two sisters, Sara and Ella…National Merit Commended Scholar…AP Scholar with Distinction (2022, 2021)…TISCA Academic All-State (2022, 2021)…Enrolled in the  Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science…Plans to major in computer science.
 
Ali Elmasry
Clifton, N.J. | Newark Academy | Back

BEFORE COLUMBIA: Competed at Newark Academy…NJ State Champion, 50 back (2022)…Broke five school records over four years.
PERSONAL: Born February 2004…Son of Dalia Elashwal…Has one sister, Yasmin…Enrolled in Columbia College.
 
Zion James
Memphis, Tenn. | Memphis University High School | Free

BEFORE COLUMBIA: Swam for Memphis University School…Holds high school and club records in 100 and 50 free (2022)…All-Metro Swimmer of the Year (2022)…All-State (2022, 2021)…Second-ranked swimmer in Tennessee…Third Place, 2022 TISCA State Championships, 50 free, 100 free …Competed at Junior Nationals…Also competed in track and bowling.
PERSONAL: Born September 2004…Mother, Mia, earned her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania…Siblings are Aaliyah and Nia……Scholastic All-American…Four-time member of high school dean's list…Mu Alpha Theta Awardee for excellence in math…Enrolled in Columbia College…Plans to major in computer science.
 
Austin Lara
Staten Island, N.Y. | Trinity School | Free/Fly

BEFORE COLUMBIA: Competed for the Trinity Tunas…Team League Champions (2019, 2021, 2022)…Set 200 free relay record (2022)…Holds the 100 fly record (2022)…Recorded a top-three all-time finish in the 500 free (2022).
PERSONAL: Born December 2004…Attended Trinity School in Manhattan…Parents are Alexandra and Frederick…Sisters are Krystal and Tiffany…Krystal swam at Northwestern from 2016-2020…Tiffany swam at Johns Hopkins from 2017-2021…Downtown Math Invitational (DMI) Team Champions (2021)…2022 DMI 8^th Place Individual, 3^rd Team…Plays the violin…Enrolled in the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science…Plans to major in mechanical engineering.
 
Brian Lee
Bellevue, Wash. | Bellevue International School | Fly/Free

BEFORE COLUMBIA: Three-time high school MVP…100 Fly Washington State Champion (2022)…100 fly state meet record holder (2022)…Washington State Championship Swimmer of the Meet (2022)…100 Free Relay Junior National Champion (2019)…Third Place, 100 Fly Junior Nationals (2022)….PNS All-Time 100 Fly record-holder…BCST 100 Fly record-holder…Sixth place, 100 Fly USA World Championship Trails (2022).
PERSONAL: Born December 2003… Parents are Yoon and Lee…Has one sister, Erica…NAFME All-Northwest in Recognition of Superior Achievement and Participation…President's Volunteer Service Award Gold Medalist…Enrolled in the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science…Plans to major in Mechanical Engineering.
 
 
Matthew Lou
Irvine, Calif. | University High School | Breast

BEFORE COLUMBIA: Swam at University High School…NISCA All-American (2019, 2021, 2022)…USA Swimming Scholastic All-American (2019-2022)…California CIF Southern Section Finalist (2019, 2021, 2022)…2^nd Place 100 breaststroke (2022)…3^rd Place 100 breast (2021)…National Age Group, 13-14, Record Holder 400 medley relay, U.S. Open Summer Juniors qualifier…Individual MVP (2021, 2022)…Team placed second at CIF-SS (2022)…Team placed first in league in 2019...League Rookie of the Year (2019)…With Irvine Novaquatics Swim Club, 9^th place men's team at 2022 Summer Junior Nationals…First Place Team, 2021 Summer Championships.
PERSONAL: Born November 2004…Son of Huirong Cheng and Wei Lou…Brother Brian competes for Ivy League rival, Princeton…Graduated Summa Cum Laude…National Merit Scholar…American Invitational Mathematics Exam Qualifier (2020-2022)…USA Coding Olympiad, Gold Division...AP Scholar with Distinction…Co-founded online game-development software company…Plays piano…Enrolled in the  Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science…Plans to major in computer science.
 
Seth Roach
Fayetteville, Ga. | Starr's Mill High School | Fly

BEFORE COLUMBIA: Competed four years at Starr's Mill High School…100 fly Georgia State Champion (2022, 2020)…100 back Georgia State Champion (2022, 2021)…Holds four school records…Fayette County record-holder, 100 fly.
PERSONAL: Born November 2003…Parents are Tom and Tara…Has four siblings, Tommy, Braeden, Bankson, and Gabby…2022 Class Valedictorian…National Honor Society…National Beta Club…AP Scholar with Distinction…2021 Georgia Governor's Honor Program County Finalist in Physics…2020Georgia Governor's Honor Program County Finalist in math…Volunteers with the Special Olympics…Enrolled in Columbia College…Intends to major in economics.
 
Padraig Troy
Long Beach, Ind. | Saint Ignatius College Preparatory | Free

BEFORE COLUMBIA: Swam at Saint Ignatius College Prep…Team was two-time Conference Champions (2022, 2021)…Sectional Champions (2022, 2021)…Indiana All-State 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay (2022, 2021)…All-American 200 Free Relay, 400 Free Relay, (2022, 2021).
PERSONAL: Born April 2004…Parents are Monica Lorimer and Matthew Troy…Siblings are Grace, Quinn, Keenan and Gavin…National Honor Society…National Merit Scholarship Commended Student (2021)…Can play the trumpet…Enrolled in Columbia College…Intends to major in human rights and political science.
 
Adam Wu
Surrey, B.C., Canada | Fraser Heights Secondary School | Fly/Free

BEFORE COLUMBIA: Recorded five first-place finishes at the 2022 Canadian Junior Championships (100 fly, 200, 400, 800, 1500 free)…2019 Canadian Junior Championships, First Place in 200 Butterfly and 1500 Free…Style High Point Winner at the 2022 Canadian Trials…First-ranked junior swimmer in British Columbia…First-ranked, Canada Junior Team (2021-22)
PERSONAL: Born August 2004…Parents are Joanna and Leo…Has one brother, Allen…Earned academic principle awards (2020-21)…Enrolled in Columbia College…Plans to major in Computer Science.
 
Michael Zhang
Alexandria, Va. | Thomas Jefferson H.S for Science and Technology | Breast

BEFORE COLUMBIA: Specialized in breaststroke for Thomas Jefferson H.S for Science and Technology…Team recorded four district, three regional, and two state titles…2022 Virginia State Champion, 100 Breaststroke (2022, 2021) …Virginia State Champion 200 IM (2021)…Ten-time individual district champion…Five-time individual region champion…Team Captain…Seven-time Colonial Swim League (CSL) record holder…Nine-time Burke Centre Penguins (CSL) team record holder.
PERSONAL: Born December 2003…Son of Lihong Guo and Shawn Zhang…Has one brother, Patrick…Enrolled in Columbia College…Plans to major in Biology.

Joseph Nicol
Bradford, U.K. | St. Mary's Menston | Dive

BEFORE COLUMBIA: Competed with the City of Leeds Diving Club under Marc Holdsworth…Highest Performing Junior Elite Athlete, Bradford Esprit Diving (BED, 2019)…Gavin Brown Memorial Award, BED (2019)…Highest Performing Senior Athlete, BED (2019)…2017 Junior Nationals 3m Gold Medalist…Scottish Open Nationals 1m Bronze Medalist (2019)…Ulla Klinger Club Platform Silver Medalist (2019)…Also competed in soccer and distance running.
PERSONAL: Born in Leeds, United Kingdom…Parents are Deborah Nicol and Karol Krzykawski…Participated in the Physics Olympiad…Further Mathematics A Level Student Award…Computer Science A Level Student Award…Enrolled in Columbia College...Intends to major in computer science and mathematics.

"We are really thrilled to have Joe joining Columbia Swimming and Diving," said Donie. "We have very high expectations for Joe and his experience on the international circuit will be very valuable as he takes on the Ivy League

For the latest on the Columbia men's swimming and diving program, follow @CULionsMSD on Instagram and Twitter, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.