A year removed from a 10-2 dual-meet record and a sixth-place finish at the 2009 Metropolitan Championships, 34th-year head coach Ed Gurka and the 2009-10 William Paterson men's swimming and diving program will welcome 15 returning letterwinners and 11 newcomers to Wightman Pool this winter.

Leading the way for the Pioneers will be senior Voyta Karas (Brno, Czech Republic), a first-team all-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) selection and the program's record holder in the 50 free (20.69) after placing second in the event at the 2009 Mets. Also a second-team all-NJAC honoree in the 200 free (1:41.15, third in Mets A Final), as well as a first-team all-conference and honorable-mention all-American for his work in the classroom, Karas placed fifth in the 100 free A Final (46.10) and helped the 200 free relay establish a new school record with a swim of 1:26.78, good enough for fourth place at the Metropolitan Championships.

Classmate Kirk Smith (West Orange, N.J./West Orange) has made his mark in the IM and breaststroke during his William Paterson career, winning the C Final (1:03.10) of the 100 breast at last year's conference meet. Also a valuable member of the relays, he was a part of last year's record-breaking 200 free relay, as well as the 400 medley relay that posted a time of 3:44.52 (fourth, B Final).

Senior Stefan Rosales (Rahway, N.J./St. Joseph's-Metuchen) earned valuable points in the 100 (56.20, third in B Final) and 200 (2:05.28, second in C Final) backs while contributing to the medley relays, and classmate Kevin Thomas (Seaville, N.J./Ocean City) touched fifth in the Mets' 200 back C Final (2:07.44) a year ago.

Senior Danny Lynch (Rockaway, N.J./St. Francis Prep) returns to the pool after finishing ninth in the 1,650 free (17:53.73), sixth in the 400 IM B Final (4:31.72) and third in the 200 fly C Final (2:10.64) as a sophomore at the 2008 Metropolitan Championships. 

Sophomore Jeremy Lim (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) will once again contribute in the fly and free, and as a member of the Pioneers' relay teams. Sophomore Brian Birkbeck (Absecon, N.J./Holy Spirit) is coming off a sixth-place effort in the Mets 200 breast C Final (2:26.61), while junior Alex Burdi (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.), senior Lucas Hopper (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston), sophomore Jordan McGrath (Edgewater Park, N.J./Burlington City) and sophomore Edward Zappile (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) will be looking for expanded roles after contributing to the Pioneers' relay teams at the 2009 Mets.

Following the loss of the team's two top divers from a year ago, William Paterson will look to sophomore Alex MacArthur (Maplewood, N.J./Columbia) and junior Andrew Scimeca (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) to help lead a young group of Pioneers on the diving boards.