JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — This is the moment that a lot have been waiting for as the Jamestown Community College men’s swimming & diving team will be competing at nationals this week in Fort Pierce, Florida.

“After a great regular season, our student-athletes have had a great few weeks of training and preparation,” said head coach Todd Conklin. “I feel that they are ready to have some great drops and fast swims.”

The Jayhawks, who are in their first season of competition since 2018, captured the Western New York Athletic Conference championship, going a perfect 4-0 during the regular season. Jamestown CC also came away with the Region 3 championship.

“We have a lot of student-athletes that will push to be in the championship heats,” added Conklin. “Our student-athletes have been in state meets and performed at the biggest stage.”

To lead the pack, sophomore Eathan Johnson (Panama, N.Y./Panama) brings his two First Team All-Region times in the 50-yard breaststroke and 100-yard breaststroke to the pool with the 18th and 17th seed in those events. Johnson will also compete in the 200-yard breaststroke, where he was named Second Team All-Region, as the 17th seed and is seeded 16th in the 100-yard individual medley.

Freshman Colby Pantall (Jamestown, N.Y./Maple Grove) finished the regular season as the First Team All-Region selection in the 500-yard freestyle, being the 20th seed. Pantall, who was the Second Team All-Region selection in the 1,650-yard freestyle, will be the 16th seed in that event. Pantall will also compete in the 1,000-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle as the 18th and 22nd seed.

Freshman Jackson Vanstrom (Jamestown, N.Y./Southwestern) will be the 15th seed in the 1,650-yard freestyle, an event where he was named First Team All-Region. Vanstrom will also compete in the 500-yard freestyle and 1,000-yard freestyle, events where he was Second Team All-Region, as the 17th seed in both events. Vanstrom’s final event he will compete in will be the 200-yard freestyle as the 24th seed.

For freshman Matthew Fennell (Fourways Garden, Johannesburg, South Africa/King Edwards VII School), three of his four individual events he will compete in are events where he made the Second Team All-Region team in the 50-yard breaststroke, 100-yard breaststroke and the 100-yard individual medley. Fennell will be the 19th seed in the 50-yard breaststroke and 100-yard breaststroke, and the 15th seed in the 100-yard individual medley. Fennell will also compete in the 200-yard breaststroke as the 18th seed.

Sophomore Elliot Johnson (Panama, N.Y./Panama) rounds out the Jayhawk performers competing this week at nationals. Three of the four events that Johnson will be competing in are events where he was named to the Second Team All-Region team in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle. Johnson will be the 23rd seed in the 50-yard freestyle, 19th seed in the 100-yard freestyle and the 21st seed in the 200-yard freestyle. Johnson will also compete in the 50-yard butterfly as the 21st seed.

The Jayhawks will also compete in the 400-yard freestyle relay as the seventh seed.

“I can’t be more excited for our student-athletes to be going to nationals,” Conklin said. “I believe our team will have a good showing. As a coaching staff, we are excited to see where their hard work will place them. This team have work hard and overcame so much. Our student-athletes have written their own stories and we hope to write a great final chapter.”

Swimming will get started this Wednesday at Indian River State College.