Peter Casares of Bates College has been named the CSCAA NCAA Division III Men's Swimming Co-Coach of the Year, following a remarkable season. In his 19th year, Casares led the Bobcats to a historic sixth place at the NCAA Championships, where they secured two national titles. Notably, the Bates 400-yard medley relay team not only won the national championship but also set a new NCAA Division III record. Casares shares this accolade with Denison's Gregg Parini, further cementing his impressive coaching career in swimming.

By the Numbers
  • Bates men's swimming team finished sixth at the NCAA Championships out of 46 teams.
  • The team won two national titles, including the first relay in program history.
  • 400-yard medley relay time: 3:08.43, setting a new NCAA Division III record.
  • Marrich Somridhivej's 100-yard breaststroke time: 51.82 seconds, the second-fastest in NCAA Division III history.
State of Play
  • Casares also received NESCAC Men's Swimming Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
  • Bates College's swimming program has gained national recognition under Casares鈥� leadership.
  • Casares was inducted into Gettysburg College鈥檚 Hall of Honor in 2014, highlighting his impact as both a swimmer and a coach.
What's Next

With this recognition, Casares aims to continue building on the team's recent successes and may focus on increasing recruitment efforts to sustain competitiveness at a national level.

Bottom Line

Peter Casares exemplifies the transformative power of dedicated coaching, as his vision for the Bates men鈥檚 swimming program has led to historic achievements and national acclaim, setting a strong foundation for the future.