VIDEO: Ben Young Interview 

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman Interim Head Swim Coach Ben Young has released program's 2022/23 schedule.  

This will be Carson-Newman's first year competing in the South Atlantic Conference. The Eagles had spent the previous eight years as members of the swimming-exclusive Bluegrass Mountain Conference.  

The Eagles will begin the year in Salem, S.C. at the Upstate Splash Open Water Swim. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 17 beginning at 8:45 a.m.  

"There's obviously a lot of rebuilding to do," Young said. "We have a roster size of 49. We had 62 last season so it is a much different team this year, but our goal is to reset and continue on the path of success that we've had in the past". 

Young's group will play host to four home meets over the course of the season, along with the annual Blue v. Orange meet on Sept. 23 which pits swimmers against their own teammates. 

Milligan will return to Mossy Creek on Oct. 15.  Lees-McRae comes to the Maddox Pool  Nov. 12.  C-N wraps up 2022 Dec. 10 against Emory and Henry. The Eagles will celebrate senior night Jan. 21 against Mars Hill.  The Eagles won every home meet last season.  

C-N will return to the University of Tennessee for the third year in-a-row on Jan. 19 and faces off against Georgia Tech on Jan. 27 in Atlanta, Ga.  

"It's great to have that relationship with UT, we look forward to continuing that relationship and also building relationships with other big programs" Young said. "We're really looking at an opportunity to build that base of what we are trying to accomplish here a little bit broader with the competition we're receiving".  

The swim program at Queens has pushed into DI territory, while Emory and Henry enters the conference as the SAC sponsors swimming for the first time this 22-23 season. The Eagles will only see Wingate at the Emory Invite Nov. 4-5 before meeting again at the SAC Championships in Charlotte, N.C. in early February.  

"We are used to seeing them (Wingate) a couple times in the fall semester," Young said. "But it's not like we won't be keeping track of them, and hopefully they will have to be doing the same for us. 

"For us, it's about trying to keep that focus and understanding that this season is split into several different sections. Our goal right now is to get the season started." 

The Eagles have had great success qualifying athletes for the National Championships in the past. C-N 17 to nationals last season. Young looks to continue pushing his team toward those qualifying times throughout the course of the season.  

"When we get to midseason, we want to try to get a few of the national cuts," Young said. "Take care of that so we can come back from finals, go through Christmas training, and then roll directly into that last Championship phase of our season."  

Carson-Newman opens the year Sept. 17 at the Upstate Open Water Swim.