Upcoming Event: Men's Swimming and Diving at Arizona and Arizona State on October 10, 2025
M Swimming
at Arizona and Arizona State
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, October 10
Tucson, Ariz.
Grand Canyon
at
Arizona and Arizona State
Photo by: Brayden Stenner
Big West title chase awaits Lopes men in 1st season
10/9/2025 9:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Paul Coro
Experienced GCU team aims to challenge favrotie Hawai'i, champ UCSB
Chasing Rainbows is more mantra than myth for the Grand Canyon men's swimming and diving team this season.
In its first Big West Conference season, the Lopes begin competition Friday in Tucson knowing two preseason outlooks: Hawai'i is the preseason conference favorite and GCU can be a title threat to the Rainbow Warriors.
With one of his most experienced teams, 18th-year head coach Steve Schaffer believes his Lopes will be in the mix with Hawai'i and defending Big West men's champion UC Santa Barbara.
"We've got a lot of talent," Schaffer said. "If we stay healthy and do alright, then we could make a run at Hawai'i. It'll be interesting. It's something the guys believe they have a shot at.
"Really, the meat of our men's team this year is the returners, and they're really good. These guys have been around and several of them are having their last go-around, so they're pretty motivated."
After being top-10 scorers at the WAC Championships last season, versatile senior Mario Perez of Spain and speedy senior Alex Volkov of Israel lead the returning group to goals of a Big West Championships title and NCAA Championships qualification.
A rule change qualifies conference individual event champions for NCAAs if the swimmer also posts a time that meets the NCAA Championship cut, which was reduced from "A" and "B" cuts to one cut for this season.
"It's really exciting with this new qualification because there are events we think we can win and be under the cut," said Schaffer, who served the committee that brought about the change. "It's just a matter of how many of our guys can do that and in what events."
Volkov could have qualified for the NCAA Championship last season if not for an in-season illness. He still was the WAC runner-up in the 100 backstroke with an NCAA "B" cut, but he returned this season with conditioning to do after conditions in Israel limiting his ability to train.
"He's working himself into shape, and he'll be ready to go by the end of the season," Schaffer said. "We think he can make a good run. The 100 backstroke would be the one he has the best shot in."
GCU senior Mohamed Mohamady of Egypt also could be a 200 backstroke factor, while Perez might battle with junior teammate Jaso Ovaskainen of Finland at a conference level in the 100 butterfly.
Perez, junior Guillermo Carrey of Spain and senior Eli Cohen of Israel are freestyle sprinters who could help a GCU relay hit a NCAA Championships cut.
"In order to win a conference meet, you've got have depth down to your last scorer," Schaffer said.
Lopes senior Carter Dooling provides some of that as a breaststroke specialist who Schaffer believes can be a conference contender and a boost to the medley relay.
"He's trained really hard over the summer, and he's really motivated," Schaffer said.
When GCU held a 10-event decathlon during four weeks of preseason training, Perez was the victor with his versatility. Junior Joe Stephenson of Houston also has proven versatile, and sophomore Batu Servi of Turkey is building off last season's 5K runner-up performance at the Open Water Championships.
"Batu could be a real difference maker in terms of whether we can add the points that we need to win the conference meet," Schaffer said.
Diving could be another difference-maker, with sophomore Omar Elsayed coming off taking second at WAC Championships on the platform and fourth in 1- and 3-meter events.
"Hawai'i has good divers, but Omar can be as good as anybody in the conference," Schaffer said. "He's good enough where, if he can put it all together for six dives in the finals, that he has a shot to make to NCAAs. He's just got a be consistent over those dives. He's got the talent."
The 27-man roster is deep and competitive, creating a push to make the 22-man traveling team for the Big West Championships in February at Houston's CRWC Natatorium. The trek begins in Tucson on Friday, when GCU faces host Arizona and powerhouse Arizona State.
"The good news is a lot of them are doing really well," Schaffer said. "The guys that were here last year have improved a lot. The guys that are new this year can contribute. They seem like they're going to train. We didn't bring anybody that didn't have a shot at making the roster. It's going to be an iron-sharpens-iron thing, and we'll be left with hard decisions at the end of the year. But that's a good problem to have."
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In its first Big West Conference season, the Lopes begin competition Friday in Tucson knowing two preseason outlooks: Hawai'i is the preseason conference favorite and GCU can be a title threat to the Rainbow Warriors.
With one of his most experienced teams, 18th-year head coach Steve Schaffer believes his Lopes will be in the mix with Hawai'i and defending Big West men's champion UC Santa Barbara."We've got a lot of talent," Schaffer said. "If we stay healthy and do alright, then we could make a run at Hawai'i. It'll be interesting. It's something the guys believe they have a shot at.
"Really, the meat of our men's team this year is the returners, and they're really good. These guys have been around and several of them are having their last go-around, so they're pretty motivated."
After being top-10 scorers at the WAC Championships last season, versatile senior Mario Perez of Spain and speedy senior Alex Volkov of Israel lead the returning group to goals of a Big West Championships title and NCAA Championships qualification.
A rule change qualifies conference individual event champions for NCAAs if the swimmer also posts a time that meets the NCAA Championship cut, which was reduced from "A" and "B" cuts to one cut for this season.
"It's really exciting with this new qualification because there are events we think we can win and be under the cut," said Schaffer, who served the committee that brought about the change. "It's just a matter of how many of our guys can do that and in what events."
Volkov could have qualified for the NCAA Championship last season if not for an in-season illness. He still was the WAC runner-up in the 100 backstroke with an NCAA "B" cut, but he returned this season with conditioning to do after conditions in Israel limiting his ability to train.
"He's working himself into shape, and he'll be ready to go by the end of the season," Schaffer said. "We think he can make a good run. The 100 backstroke would be the one he has the best shot in."
GCU senior Mohamed Mohamady of Egypt also could be a 200 backstroke factor, while Perez might battle with junior teammate Jaso Ovaskainen of Finland at a conference level in the 100 butterfly.
Perez, junior Guillermo Carrey of Spain and senior Eli Cohen of Israel are freestyle sprinters who could help a GCU relay hit a NCAA Championships cut.
"In order to win a conference meet, you've got have depth down to your last scorer," Schaffer said.
Lopes senior Carter Dooling provides some of that as a breaststroke specialist who Schaffer believes can be a conference contender and a boost to the medley relay.
"He's trained really hard over the summer, and he's really motivated," Schaffer said.
When GCU held a 10-event decathlon during four weeks of preseason training, Perez was the victor with his versatility. Junior Joe Stephenson of Houston also has proven versatile, and sophomore Batu Servi of Turkey is building off last season's 5K runner-up performance at the Open Water Championships.
"Batu could be a real difference maker in terms of whether we can add the points that we need to win the conference meet," Schaffer said.
Diving could be another difference-maker, with sophomore Omar Elsayed coming off taking second at WAC Championships on the platform and fourth in 1- and 3-meter events.
"Hawai'i has good divers, but Omar can be as good as anybody in the conference," Schaffer said. "He's good enough where, if he can put it all together for six dives in the finals, that he has a shot to make to NCAAs. He's just got a be consistent over those dives. He's got the talent."
The 27-man roster is deep and competitive, creating a push to make the 22-man traveling team for the Big West Championships in February at Houston's CRWC Natatorium. The trek begins in Tucson on Friday, when GCU faces host Arizona and powerhouse Arizona State.
"The good news is a lot of them are doing really well," Schaffer said. "The guys that were here last year have improved a lot. The guys that are new this year can contribute. They seem like they're going to train. We didn't bring anybody that didn't have a shot at making the roster. It's going to be an iron-sharpens-iron thing, and we'll be left with hard decisions at the end of the year. But that's a good problem to have."
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