CU Swimming & Diving Preview - at North Country Invitational (11/21-22)

Melissa Cartier

Swimming/Diving | 11/20/2025 2:46:00 PM

The first true invitational meet of the season occurs this weekend for the Clarkson University Swimming & Diving team, as the Golden Knights head across town to compete in the annual North Country Invitational, hosted by SUNY Potsdam.

The Series: Clarkson's men broke a three-year drought last fall by winning the North Country Invitational in 2024, its first title since 2019 after coming up short in 2021, 2022, and 2023. The Golden Knights' women came up short of matching the effort, but still placed as the runner-up. This year's field will involve the Knights, Norwich, host SUNY Potsdam, Roberts Wesleyan, and Saint Michael's. The meet opens at 4:00 pm on Friday and then resumes at 10:00 am on Saturday.

The Men: There will be plenty of individual race contenders from the Clarkson men this weekend, with several swimmers and divers off to strong starts. Gavin Stuhler has won seven of his last eight races in 2025 and enjoyed a solid run last year at the NCI, winning both the 50 freestyle and 200 freestyle. Mason Cartier had a pair of runner-up finishes a year ago at the NCI, both in the backstroke events, but he should be a favorite this time around, as he has won eight of 11 individual starts this fall. Freshman Evan Paneras has won six of his first 10 races this semester and Andrew Sammons, who won the 200 breaststroke a year ago at the NCI, has won five of his starts in the fall.

The Women: Sophomore Aurora Zary won the 200 backstroke a year ago by more than 16 seconds at the NCI, and won her first two backstroke races in her opening race of 2025-26. Fiona Reilly also came away with a win last year, taking the top spot in the 200 individual medley to go along with a second-place finish in the 200 breaststroke and a third-place showing in the 100 breaststroke. Natasha Hurff was the runner-up in the 500 freestyle at the NCI in 2024 and has three wins over the last three dual meets. Evelyn Vieira should be in the running for first-place honors in the diving events on Friday and Saturday as well.

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Players Mentioned

Mason Cartier: Back/Fly; Junior

Natasha Hurff: Free; Sophomore

Fiona Reilly: IM; Sophomore

Andrew Sammons: Breast/IM; Junior

Gavin Stuhler: Free; Junior

Evelyn Vieira: Dive; Sophomore

Aurora Zary: IM/Back; Sophomore

Evan Paneras: Fly/IM; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Mason Cartier
: Junior
: Back/Fly

Natasha Hurff
: Sophomore
: Free

Fiona Reilly
: Sophomore
: IM

Andrew Sammons
: Junior
: Breast/IM

Gavin Stuhler
: Junior
: Free

Evelyn Vieira
: Sophomore
: Dive

Aurora Zary
: Sophomore
: IM/Back

Evan Paneras
: Freshman
: Fly/IM