FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University swim teams swept their first meet of the 2026-27 season, topping the Mighty Banyans of New College in Florida in dual action at the FGCU Aquatic Center in Fort Myers. In the first meet of the Josh Harriott era, the Gyrenes earned a 168-56 victory in men's action, and claimed a victory by a 153-62 score on the women's side. Both sets of Gyrenes won all but two races in the season opener.

Sophomore     Jack Keyser was Ave Maria's top male swimmer in the season opener, as the sophomore claimed four gold medals, including three in individual races. The Indiana native touched the wall first in the 100 yard freestyle, 100 yard breaststroke, and 200 yard individual medley, and swam the breaststroke for AMU's winning 200 yard medley relay team.

Eli Soderberg and Eli Pelzer also starred for the Gyrenes, with Soderberg winning four gold medals and Pelzer winning three and adding a bronze. Soderberg won the 200 yard backstroke and 200 yard butterfly races, and was part of Ave Maria's 200 yard freestyle and 200 yard medley relay teams. Pelzer touched first in the 200 and 500 yard freestyles, and joined Soderberg on the 200 yard freestyle relay team.

On the women's side, three Gyrenes all accounted for a team-high 22 points. Emma Heasty and Delaney Weisbruch both won three gold medals and one silver. Heasty was the winner in the 50 yard freestyle and 100 yard backstroke races, and was Ave Maria's anchor in the 200 yard medley relay. Weisbruch won the 100 and 200 yard butterfly events, and was also a part of the winning 200 yard medley relay team.

In her AMU debut, Lily Streitmatter also scored 22 points with two gold medals and two silvers. Streitmatter was the winner in the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke races, and added a silver medal result in the 200 yard freestyle. Anna Szucs (200 and 500 yard freestyle) and Maeve O'Brien (200 yard backstroke and 1000 yard freestyle) also added two individual victories each for Ave Maria in the victory.

The Gyrene swim teams return to the pool in two weeks for the first of two mult-team events to be held in Fort Myers. Ave Maria will host the AMU Spooky Halloween Invite, with St. Thomas University, Thomas University, and New College scheduled to be in attendance. St. Thomas was ranked fourth in the nation in both genders last season, with Thomas a top 25 program on both sides.