Head coach Scott Teeters has announced the addition of nine newcomers to the EIU Panthers' 2025-2026 men's roster. 

The Panthers welcome Abdelrahman Awad, Riley Blaisuis, Shane Gabel, Luke Helm, John Howaniec, Alexander Sadowski, Joshua Campion, Simonas Rimskis, and Jack Rivera

Abdelrahman Awad (Cairo, Egypt) transferred from the University of Indianapolis after competing during the 2024-2025 season. During his time at UINDY, he participated in multiple meets, competing in the 100 Y Breast, 200 Y Breast, and 100 Y Free. He competed in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships, where he placed third with a time of 2:06.66. Awad placed 5th in the 100 Y Breast with a time of 58.80 at the INDY vs. NKU meet. Prior to his time at the University of Indianapolis, Awad competed for Lake Erie Silver Dolphins, in which he placed 3rd with a time of 59.11 in the 100 Y Breast in the Lake Erie Senior Champs Prelims. 

Riley Blaisuis (Brownsburg, Ind.) competed in swimming at Brownsburg High School and Zionsville Swim Club. At Brownsburg, coached by Matt Elliott, Blaisuis was a 5x IHSAA Sectional Champion and a 2x IHSAA State Qualifier. At the IHSAA Boys Sectional, he placed first with a time of 2:00.77 in the 200 Y IM and 1:00.31 in the 100 Y Breast as a senior. At the Indiana Senior State Championship, Blaisuis came in 22nd in the 200 L Breast Finals with a time of 2:35.94. During his junior season campaign, he won the IHSAA Boys Sectional in the 100 Y Breast with a time of 1:00.07. His successes started early on in high school, as he was a 2x time champion in the AAU Junior Olympic Games with a first-place finish in the 100 L Breast at 1:10.31 and a 200 L Breast gold medal with a time of 2:36.27. 

Shane Gabel (Lockport, Ill.) competed in swimming at Lockport Township High School and Rise Aquatics Swim Club. Gabel helped lead his team to two team sectional championships while holding multiple high school and conference records. At the IHSA Class 3A Boys Sectional, Gabel earned gold by breaking two Southwest Suburban Conference records, including the 50 Y Free with a time of 21.10 and the 100 Y Free with a time of 46.29. Gabel placed 9th in the 100 L Free 400 with a finals time of 55.10. In Orlando, Florida, Gabel earned a time of 21.48 in the 50 Y Free. With his club team, Rise Aquatics Swim Club, Shane swam a seasonal best, earning 9th place in the 50 Fly with a time of 29.56. Throughout his high school career, he would earn twelve first-place sectional medals. 

Luke Helm (Wilmette, Ill.) competed in swimming for Loyola Academy High School. During his school career, he was a High School All-American in the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay. Coached by Mike Hengelmann, Helm placed second in the Minneapolis Sectional Time Trials with a time of 2:23.41 in the 200 L IM. At the Illinois Senior Championship, Luke swam a 24.49 in the 50 L Free, earning him thirteenth place. As a senior, Helm received 7th place in the 50 Y Free with a time of 21.72 at the 3A IHSA Boys Sectional. Over the summer, Luke got first place at the ISI Summer ECSST Regional, competing in the 100 Y Back. While competing at the Blue Devil Swim Club May Mania, Helm placed second in the 50 L Free with a time of 26.05. 

John Howaniec (Orland Park, Ill.) competed in swimming for Carl Sandburg High School. Outside of swimming, John participated in water polo and football. He was a 4x swimming all-conference, 2x water polo all-conference, 2x swimming all-sectional, and 1x water polo all-sectional. As a senior, Howaniec placed second in the 200 Y IM with a time of 2:02.51 and fourth in the 100 Y Fly with a time of 54.88. He won gold at the IHSA Boys Sectional with two first-place finishes in the 200 Y IM and 100 Y Fly. In the summer of 2024, Howaniec competed in the IL SCST Summer Regional Championship, where he placed third in the 400 Y IM with a time of 4:29.83 and sixth in the 500 Y Free with a time of 4:56.70. 

Alexander Sadowski (McHenry, Ill.) attended McHenry Community High School, where he was a 3x team MVP while swimming in various events. At the Illinois Senior Championship, Sadowski finished first in the 50 L Back with a time of 28.04 and first in the 100 L Back with a time of 59.17. In the 2024 IHSA Boys Sectional, he earned eighth place in the 50 Y Free with a time of 22.64 and eighth place in the 100 Y Back with a time of 54.71. While swimming for the Rise Aquatic Club, he competed in the IL RISE Kendall Pickering, where he finished first in the 100 L Back and fourth in the 50 L Back. At the IL PAC North Shore Open, he swam a couple of first-place races, including the 100 L Back and 200 L Back. 

Joshua Campion (Las Cruces, New Mexico) competed in swimming at Centennial High School, Las Cruces, New Mexico. Campion left his mark on his high school program by holding five school records, including the 50 Free, 100 Free, 100 Breast, 100 Fly, and 200 IM. To go along with his records, he is a 2x District Champion and an All-State Second Team member for the 2024-2025 season. In addition, he helped lead his team to multiple district championships. As a senior, he finished fifth in the 100 L Breast with a time of 1:12.06 at the NMS State Championship. At the NMAA State Championship in February, Campion finished second in the 100 Y Breast with a time of 59.56. 

Simonas Rimskis (Tinley Park, Ill.) competed in swimming and water polo at Andrew High School. This past summer, Rimskis participated in the Illinois Senior Championship, in which he recorded a top five finish in the 100 L Breast with a time of 1:06.52. In addition, he participated in the USA Swimming Futures Championship, in which he recorded a time of 29.86 in the 50 L Breast. As a junior, Rimskis earned two second-place finishes in both the 50 Y Free and 100 Y Free at the IHSA Class 3A Boys Sectional. While competing at the IL SCST Summer Regional Championship, Rimskis won gold in the 100 Y Free with a time of 48.14. 

Jack Rivera (Austin, TX.) swam at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas. The four-year letterman was named to the Texas 6A Region 13 All-District first team as a junior and senior. Rivera helped lead his team to the Texas 6A Region 13 District championship as a freshman, sophomore, and senior. In addition, he was named to the TISCA All-American High School Academic Team as a junior and senior. As a junior, Rivera competed in the UIL District 26-6A Championship and recorded two top ten finishes in the 500 Y Free and 200 Y Free. Rivera swam for the Austin Swim Club and recorded a third-place finish with a time of 4:28.48 at their club showcase. 

You can see these newcomers in action on October 3rd at 3:30 p.m. as they face Valparaiso at Padovan Pool.