SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Men's and Women's swim teams will head North to Stockton, California, this weekend for the University of Pacific Invite. The UOP Invitational will get underway at 10 am both Friday, Oct. 3 as well and Saturday, Oct. 4.

This is the first meet this year for the UCSB team, the Blue and Gold look to battle four other in-state schools. Among the Gauchos, attending this event will be Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners, Stanford Cardinal, Cal Baptiste Lancers, and the hosting University of Pacific Tigers.

After this week's trip north, UCSB will head south next week to face another batch of West Coast opponents. The Gauchos aim to get off to a strong start this season, with hopes of repeating as Big West Champions for both the women's and men's teams.

The Blue and Gold brought in 14 newcomers this year to help reload these championship rosters, made up of a majority of freshmen.

Men's Newcomers
The Gauchos have two male transfers, Trent Stegnia, a Junior who prior to the Gauchos spent time at Foothill College. As well as Michael Peterson, a junior sprinter in freestyle and backstroke, who spent two seasons at Pasadena City College. Other than Transfers, the Blue and Gold brought in five other male freshmen: Diego Castaneda, Seth Collet, Henry Heit, Lucas Hubbard, and Aneesh Veeravatnam.

Women's Newcomers
The Gauchos brought in seven freshmen this year to contribute to the squad. Caitlin Brown, Chloe Eyrich, Remy Harrison, Morgan Hoppe, Callie Kowalchick, Devon Silberman, Lelia Symington.