FAIRFIELD, Conn. – There's just something about the start of a season that seems to bring the perfect blend of excitement and enthusiasm to an athletic program. It's the first chance to compete after weeks of training, an opportunity to show that the long hours of preparation are justified.

"The teams have been awesome and they have been working really hard," Head Coach Jacy Dyer said. "It's been fun on a daily basis because they have great attitudes and work hard every day."

That exuberance is certainly more prevalent this week as the Fairfield University men's and women's swimming and diving teams begin their transition from preseason to the regular season.  Both teams will take to the water for the first time against outside competition this weekend with the annual Fairfield Invitational that includes the diving competition on Friday night and the swimming competition on Saturday afternoon.

The Invitational will feature teams from around the metropolitan area with Manhattan College, Southern Connecticut State University, and Wagner College competing in both the men's and women's events while Central Connecticut State University and Sacred Heart will join on the women's side only.

The Stags will begin their first season under Head Coach Jacy Dyer, who comes to Fairfield after spending the last few seasons at Virginia Tech. Last season, she served as the associate head coach after coaching as an assistant for the previous three years at Virginia Tech. She also was an assistant at James Madison University and the University of Toledo, her alma mater.

"Anytime you go through a coaching change, there is some hesitancy," Coach Dyer said. "But the teams were very welcoming and bought into what we are doing right from the start. And the effort that they have given us has already paid off with great improvement in the water."

The improvement that Dyer has seen comes across all four classes which will make the team concept even more important to the overall success this season. Like a puzzle, each class fits together and connects in order to make the team whole.

"Our freshmen class for both the men and women have done an extraordinary job every day," Coach Dyer said. "They have adjusted to college really well and are really dialed in and excited for the season. The sophomores have the experience from their freshman year and are applying what they learned last year to what they want to do and accomplish this season. The juniors have adapted really well and are able take their experience along with the changes we make and use it for positive results in the pool. The seniors have been great leaders so each group is contributing something really great."

After this weekend's Invitational, the swimming and diving teams will compete in a few dual meets before returning to Invitational meets later in the season. The dual meets offer a chance to improve and fine tune their mechanics with the hope that all swimmers and divers will be ready when championship time rolls around in February.

"We always want to win our dual meets but we are swimming against a lot of good teams that will be very competitive," Coach Dyer said. "We tell everyone to figure out the strategy that they want to compete with and keep trying to figure out what you what will work for you at the end of the season. We want to use this early season to be ready for our midseason invite as well as the championship meets."

With the proper preparation and work ethic already evident, the Fairfield University men's and women's swimming and diving teams are looking to carry their preseason and early season excitement and enthusiasm all the way through the 2022-23 season.