Bonnies Women's Swimming Looks To Take Next Step in Atlantic 10 During 2025-26 Season

The St. Bonaventure women's swim and dive team prepares for the 2025-26 season as they kick things off Thursday, Oct. 9 at Penn State’s McCoy Natatorium.

Head coach Mike Smiechowski enters his fourth season at the helm of the Bonnies program and feels his squad is prepared to rise in the Atlantic 10 ranks.

St. Bonaventure was selected to finish eighth in the preseason ranks after placing ninth at the 2025 Atlantic 10 Conference Championship with 241 points.

“I think where the gap is in individual points, we’re in the middle of the pack of the conference, but our relays have lagged behind,” Smiechowski assessed. “I think that's the easiest way for us to close the gap other than diving, which I think we've done.”

The senior class for the Bonnies includes Eylul Alli, Kathryn Beyer, Anna Beth Blankenship, Paris Christie, Daciana Colon, Sarah Gonzalez, Sanayia Joefield, Sydney Londergan, Kathryn Lyons and Nele Vetter.

The junior class includes returners Anna Bojana Forjan and Maris Sadowski, along with Lia Doskoris, a transfer from the University of Windsor.

Bojana Forjan holds program bests in the 100 and 200-backstroke, as well as contributing to the top marks in the 400 and 800 freestyle relays.

The 400-meter freestyle relay of Bojana Forjan and Nele Vetter alongside now-graduated Halle Myers and Ellie Kraus set a program record with their 3:20.72 finish at last year’s Atlantic 10 Championships. The Bonnies aim to bolster that already competitive team with their existing roster and 12 new arrivals.

Sophomores Alessandra Haas Ren, Phoebe McClaren, Caroline Murray, and Hana Wienckowski all return for their second year with the program while Dhavgely Mendoza will spend her first full season with the program after arriving on campus last January.

McClaren posted a program record in the 1650-free at last year’s Atlantic 10 Championships and Mendoza walked away with a silver medal from the 1-meter board at the contest.

Coach Smiechowski added, “Alessandra Ren got off to a very good start for us last year, but didn't have a great second half. She's had a new energy to her as well. Phoebe too. She's coming off a little bit of an injury and she’s the school record holder as a freshman in the mile.”

Along with Smiechowski and head diving coach Alejandra Fuentes, Mikaela Snayczuk joins the staff as a full-time assistant coach following a standout student-athlete career at Alfred State. The staff also welcomes part-time assistant Ani Dunffee.  

The team boasts a 10-strong freshman class with the additions of Sophie Baker, Laila Chance, Cameron Darnell, Paige Gandolfini, Kate Hill, Mia Hill, Grace Purtell, Zoe Purtell, Samantha Schnappauf and Sarah Wallace.

"Our relays are going to be a priority this year," Smiechowski added. "I do think that we have enough depth in our talent, which we haven't had in the past, where it's been, you know, one or two and then we're trying to piece together those. I think the depth of our program can allow us to have more competitive relays. If we do that, we will be in the conversation in the top half.”

The Bonnies hope to have a nucleus in place to make noise when the conference meet rolls around at the end of the season.

“I do think this is the most talented roster I've had from top to bottom,” Smiechowski said. “We do have the best women's program we've had in many years.”