By John Hagerty, news staff

The Northeastern University (NU) swimming and diving team will enter their 2017-18 campaign with a brand new roster, including 12 new student-athletes.

“The environment almost feels like an entirely different team,” third-year Carly Schnabel said.

Despite not knowing each other very well, the team came together after the first week of fall classes to participate in a charity event for the second consecutive year. The team raised money for cancer research at the Rhode Island Open Water Swim put on by the non-profit Swim Across America on Sept. 9. They raised over $11,000 in support of gynecological and breast cancer research at Women and Infants Hospital in Rhode Island,

The event’s fundraising effort culminated in an open water swim at Roger Wheeler Beach in Narragansett, Rhode Island.

“[The event was] a good way for us to bond as a team and get to know the freshmen,” fourth-year captain Alyssa Seales said. “It was important for us to help each other out during that swim.”

The team’s divers also participated in the open water swim, leaving their comfort zone of the diving board.

“It was amazing. I think our divers do so well at this event,” Schnabel said. “The coaches never ask us to do a high dive, so I think it’s incredible that they can get in and swim a half mile for cancer.”

The Huskies will begin their season this Saturday with an intra-squad meet at Barletta Natatorium at 9 a.m.

Coates imparted that the meet serves as an “opportunity for the freshmen to experience what a college meet is like.”

Even though the meet does not count toward their CAA record, it will prove a major first step for those transitioning to the collegiate level.

“[We] gauge how we can help each other as a team, whether it comes to cheering, or helping the freshmen understanding how meets work,” Seales said. “This is the largest turnover we have had in recent history.”

The incoming class of student-athletes includes ten new swimmers and two new divers.

“Our team has strong depth this year with the freshman class,” Seales said. “I’ve seen lots of positive attitudes so far.”

Schnabel reiterated Seales’ sentiment echoing her excitement about the new wave of talent.

“I think the freshman add to the program both socially and in the pool,” she said.

Coates emphasized the level of talent of the team’s additions, downplaying any negativity of the high turnover.

“[This class was] recruited with the thought that all of them have the opportunity to score at the conference championship,” Coates said.

Despite the graduation of seven seniors after last season, the team has high expectations for this season. In terms of their goals for the year, the consensus among the athletes and the head coach was that the focus of this season for the team is to improve collectively.

“The bottom line is that we need everyone to be at their personal best at the end of the season,” Coates said.