HONOLULU—The last three seasons have been one of the most successful stretches in the history of the University of Hawai'i swimming and diving program. Built on a positive culture and a family-like atmosphere, the Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wahine have brought in recruits spanning from the island of Hawai'i, mainland U.S., to an international reach.
 
Gone is Dan Schemmel, the three-time MPSF Coach of the Year, as he departed to take over one of the more prestigious collegiate positions in the sport with the men's program at Stanford. But by his side through his duration at U.H. were assistant swimming coaches Elliot Ptasnik and Marcus Guttmann, along with legendary head diving coach Mike Brown and assistant Anita Rossing.
 
The Ptasnik era officially began in late May as he was appointed as the head coach of the program by athletics director David Matlin.
 
"Elliot and the current coaching staff have been instrumental in developing a championship culture in and out of the pool," said Matlin. "His passion for Hawai'i is evident, and we are excited to watch him continue to have a positive effect on our student-athletes as the leader of both programs."
 
Ptasnik, the former head coach of the Manhattan Makos, has a reputation of building programs and developing Olympic athletes. He'll look to do the same at U.H., beginning this season.
 
Welcome Back
 
Men's:
Returning to the program for the 2019-2020 season is All-American Kane Follows. The Auckland, New Zealand native grabbed headlines last season as he claimed four MPSF honors including three First-Team Selections before competing in the NCAA Championships. At the NCAA Championships, Follows finished seventh overall in the 200 backstroke, earning himself NCAA All-American status.
 
Under the tutelage of the U.H. coaching staff, Follows will have an opportunity to add to his legacy as a senior.
 
Also returning is senior Olli Kokko. When healthy, Kokko has shown brilliance in the pool, reaching the NCAA Championships the previous two seasons, capping it off as an honorable mention All-American last year in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes. Paired with Follows, the combo will have their opportunities to shine own their own as well as a part of the relay squads.
 
"This season, the men's roster will consist of current school record holders in backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. Cal-transfer and Hawaiian local 'aukai Lileikis will lead our freestyle group. We have a stacked freshman class, and everyone between them has conference champion experience. This will be one of the most exciting seasons men's Hawaii swimming and diving has ever had."- Head Coach Elliot Ptasnik
 
As a freshman, diver Max Burman made an impact by winning two events at the MPSF Conference Meet where he was also named MPSF Freshman of the Year. Burman and the other three Warrior divers have a history of having placed in the top three places at the MPSF Championship, and they all can compete at the highest levels. 
 
"Max (Burman) gained experience this summer by competing at the World University Games in Naples, Italy. The entire men's diving squad can contribute to another MPSF championship and possibly qualify for the NCAA Championships." –Coach Diving Coach Mike Brown
 
Women's:
For the last three seasons, Phoebe Hines has been rewriting the distance freestyle history book at U.H. She brought incredible stamina and skill set when she came to the 'Bows program in 2016 and has been getting faster every season. As a freshman, Hines took gold in the 1650 freestyle of the MPSF Championships but didn't qualify for the NCAA Championships. The following year she not only made the NCAAs, but she finished with Honorable Mention All-American recognition with a 12th place finish. Then as a junior, she sat atop the leader board in all collegiate competition in the 1650 free for most of the year, to eventually being named MPSF Female Swimmer of the Year and an NCAA All-American.
 
If she can keep her current pace, her senior year could be one of the most memorable in U.H. history.
 
Rewriting the team's backstroke records is junior Karolina Hajkova. As a sophomore Hajkova fought her way into the NCAA Championships competing in both the 100 and 200 back events. This year could be the year where Hajkova has her big break out season.
 
"Phoebe and Karolina have seen significant improvements each season and have been racing at the highest level of international competition all summer. We have several other swimmers who have been on the brink of qualifying for NCAAs. We are extremely proud to be three-time MPSF Conference champions, and we look forward to building off this success."- Head Coach Elliot Ptasnik
 
The Rainbow Wahine diving program has made it a habit by having a diver being named MPSF Female Diver of the Year. In 2018-2019 three different Rainbow Wahine divers won the three diving events at the MPSF. Jami Stone, Ivy Houser, and Victoria Moretti won the one-meter, three-meter and platform events, respectively. The MPSF named Houser the MPSF Female Diver of the Year as she qualified for the NCAA Championships and competed in the platform event in Austin, Texas. Now a junior, Houser will aim to build off her solid foundation of work by trying to reclaim the honor while qualifying again for the NCAAs.
 
"The Rainbow Wahine divers have a lot of talent to continue to achieve at a very high level. They will again score significant points for the Women's Swimming and Diving Team at the MPSF Conference Championships, and their goals include qualifying for the Women's NCAA Championships in Athens, Georgia in March."- Head Diving Coach Mike Brown
 
Newcomers 
 
Men's:
• 'aukai Lileikis
• Timothy Gallagher
• Kaiko Hokama-Decker
• Sawyer Kruse
• Justin Lisoway
• Albin Lovgren
• Tim Masten
 
Who to look out for-
'aukai Lileikis: "'aukai is the fastest male Hawaiian swimmer to-date. His family swam for U.H., and he is extremely proud to represent Hawaii. He is a driving motivational force of this men's team. We're eager to get him behind the blocks in the U.H. cap." -Head Coach Elliot Ptasnik
 
Timothy Gallagher: "Tim is an extremely smart swimmer with lots of raw talent. This summer he qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials while doing half of his training out of a lake. We are very excited to see how far this young man can go."- Head Coach Elliot Ptasnik
 
Albin Lovgren: "Albin is a Swedish Junior National champion in the butterfly. He's strong, fast, and hungry to compete. Albin will make an immediate impact as a freshman, and we're looking forward to seeing him reach his full potential."- Head Coach Elliot Ptasnik
 
Women's: 
• Michaela Briggs
• Annika Donez
• Emma Frey
• Anna Friedrich
• Jordan Hennig
• Emily Lester
• Kailee Nabeta
• Isabel Powers
• Katie Strachan
 
Who to look out for-
Anna Friedrich: "Anna is a German National champion in backstroke and will contribute in freestyle as well. She will develop her turns and underwater kicks which will allow her to achieve her goals at the conference and NCAA levels."- Head Coach Elliot Ptasnik
 
Katie Stratchan: "Katie is is very versatile swimmer who can swim free, breast and I.M. She comes from a club of grit and hard work. We're excited to see her lead the team in training and racing." –Head Coach Elliot Ptasnik
 
2019-20 Competition Schedule
 
The season will officially begin in late October when U.H. travels to Tucson, Ariz. for a three-team meet with the University of Arizona and the University of Denver on Oct. 25th & 26th. A few weeks later the swimming and diving squads will head to College Station, Tex. for the Art Adamson Invitational. Every year the Art Adamson Invitational has been used as a true measuring stick for the swimmers and divers to see how they match up against national competition, paving the way for what to come in March.
 
In December the 'Bows will take their longest trip of the year to Atlanta, Ga. for the Toyota U.S. Open Championships. After a three-week hiatus, they'll be back in action in January with the Wally Nakamoto Diving Invite, followed by a meet with the University of Minnesota on Jan. 11. The head-to-head matchup with the Gophers will be the eighth consecutive season the Big 10 program has visited the island of O'ahu. Two days before Minnesota, the women's team will host the University of Wisconsin.
 
Both the men's and women's squads will have a chance to repeat as conference champions beginning on Feb. 19 with the MPSF Championships. The women will be working to make it four straight while the men will be trying to achieve back-to-back titles.
 
"The 2019-20 season is very special because it is an Olympic year, which is huge for the sport of swimming. We have big goals at the MPSF conference championships, NCAA championship, and Olympic levels. We look forward to working with each student-athlete to accomplish their goals in the pool, in the classroom, and helping them reach their full potential."
 
Two weeks later will be the Zone E Diving Qualifying Meet, followed by the NCAA Championships. The women will compete first from Mar. 18 to the 21st in Athens, Ga. followed by the men on Mar. 25 to the 28th in Indianapolis, Ind.