MIDWAY, Ky. - Jeff Armstrong believes he's starting to settle into a groove as he enters his third season as the head coach of the Midway men's and women's swimming programs.

After beginning his tenure with just 16 swimmers across the men's and women's teams, Armstrong has increased that tally to 27 two years later, and says the spike should lead to more improvements in the pool.

"I feel like we're becoming a complete team," said Armstrong, whose squads broke 32 of a potential 46 team records a season ago. "(We have more swimmers) than we've ever had. It just feels more complete."

After having their scheduled season opener on Oct. 4 canceled, Midway will now begin 2025-26 at home in a triangle match against Pikeville and West Virginia Tech Saturday.

MEN'S TEAM

Despite an overall uptick in numbers, the Eagle men will have a new look overall after the departure of five key contributors from a season ago.

Veteran leadership will be provided by senior Daniel Maia and junior Jalen Wright, who hold a combined 10 program records between individual races and relays. 

Armstrong expects Maia to open the year in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle and 200 individual medley, with Wright slated to go in the 100 breaststroke, as well as the 50 and 100 free.

After only having him for half of last season, Armstrong is eager to get a full year with sophomore David Roach in the 100 and 200 fly and 200 IM. Roach set team records in the 100 fly and 200 IM last year, as well as the 50 back and 50 fly.

Freshmen Caique Nunes Maia and Caua Kreia have also shown promise in the preseason, and while Armstrong has yet to settle on events for them, he says he's been very impressed with their versatility and work ethic.

WOMEN'S TEAM

The women's program brings back its most decorated postseason swimmer in junior Josie Briner, a six-time national qualifier in her time at Midway. She swam at nationals in the 100 and 200 butterfly each of the last two seasons, while also reaching in the 200 IM in 2024 and the 200 free in 2025.

Briner is the only swimmer in program history to reach a national final, doing so in the 200 fly each of the last two seasons. She finished 13th both years while finishing in 2:11.95 last year, cutting more than a second and a half off her 2024 performance.

Hoping to join her on the national stage this year is sophomore Kaelynn Martin, who hit national qualifying cuts in the 50 free, 100 back and 100 fly a season ago, but was unable to earn an invite in a crowded field.

Armstrong has national expectations for freshmen Elizabeth Dolberry and Sydney Eastman as well. Dolberry will stat the year in the 100 free, 100 back and 200 back, while Eastman is expected to swim the 100 and 200 fly.

EXPECTATIONS

Along with changes on the roster, Armstrong feels like he got a big boost on his coaching staff with the addition of two former Midway standouts. 

Brad Blanchard, a six-time program record holder on the men's side, joined as an assistant, while 2024 national qualifier Sammy Logan (née Friel), came aboard as a student assistant.

After finishing fourth at the last two Mid-South Conference Championship meets, Armstrong says he's gunning for a top-three finish on the women's side, while hoping the men can make a 100-point improvement from their 221-point performance at the same race a season ago.

He says the best way to get on that path would be a strong start this weekend.

"I am hoping to come away with a couple of (wins)," Armstrong said of the season opener. "I'm excited to see the kids perform since they've been doing six good weeks of practicing."

Saturday's meet against Pikeville and West Virginia Tech will begin at 1 p.m. at the Falling Springs Center in Versailles.