CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard University men's swimming and diving will welcome nine first-years to the program for the start of the 2022-23 season as part of the Class of 2026, Kevin Tyrrell, The Ulen-Brooks Endowed Coach for Harvard Men's Swimming & Diving, announced on Tuesday.
 
The class has earned All-America honors, won state championships, set school records, and gained national rankings. The group includes seven swimmers and two divers with two student-athletes each hailing from California, Massachusetts, and North Carolina alongside one student-athlete each from Colorado, Florida, and Georgia.
 
Harvard's Class of 2026 includes swimmers – Anders Aistars (Ladera Ranch, Calif.), Will Ayinon (Newton, Mass.), David Greeley (Durham, N.C.), Nico Hensch (Newton, Mass.), Ross Noble (Raleigh, N.C.), Saavan Shah (Atlanta, Ga.), and Raglan Ward (Colorado Springs, Colo.) – alongside divers Denny Gulia-Janovski (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Raphael Tourette (Cupertino, Calif.).
 
The group joins a Harvard program that has won five straight Ivy League titles and 28 all-time Ivy championships. The Crimson placed 13^th at the 2022 NCAA Championships, ranking as the top school from a non-Power Five conference and has finished in the top 20 at each of the last three NCAA meets at which it has competed.
 
Anders Aistars
Event: Freestyle
Hometown: Ladera Ranch, Calif.
High School: Tesoro
Before Harvard: Garnered NISCA All-America accolades in 2021 and 2022 … Posted an Olympic Trials cut in the 400-meter freestyle … Ranked second in the nation in the 50 free and 100 free … Set school records in the 100 free, 200 free, and 50 free … Won the 100 free CIF Southern Section Division I title … Gained Team MVP honors as a junior and senior … Served team as a captain as a senior … Competed on the club level for The Swim Team, Viejo Nadadores, and Gatos Swim Club/Ladera Liquids … Earned four varsity letters … Took home USA Swimming Scholastic All-America all four years … Finished as school's valedictorian … Son of Ellen and Arnie Aistars.
Why Harvard? "I chose Harvard for its outstanding academic programs and the amazing team culture that I experienced on my visit."
 
Will Ayinon
Event: Breaststroke, Individual Medley
Hometown: Newton, Mass.
High School: Newton North
Before Harvard: Set Newton North school records in the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard breaststroke … Competed on the club level for Gator Swim Club … Also competed in volleyball … Enjoys tennis, fishing, and hiking … Son of Svetlana and Lambert Ayinon.
Why Harvard? "I chose Harvard for the unique opportunity to pursue both academics and athletics at the highest level, as well as for the highly supportive team culture."
 
David Greeley
Event: Freestyle, Individual Medley
Hometown: Durham, N.C.
High School: Cardinal Gibbons
Before Harvard: Earned All-America accolades in 2019, 2021, and 2022 … Gained CAP-6 Swimmer of the Year honors as a junior and senior … Set school records in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 200 IM, 200 free relay, and 400 free relay … Won state title in the 200 free relay twice … Captured state titles in the 200 IM and 100 free … Formerly held the National Age Group record in the 15-16 800 free relay … Established club records in the 200 medley relay, 400 free relay, and 400 medley relay … Garnered Team MVP in 2021 and 2022 … Competed on the club level for TAC Titans, North Carolina Aquatic Club, and Duke Aquatics … Earned four varsity letters … Gained Scholastic All-America in 2021 and 2022 … Won the Durham Mayors Award … President's Award student … Plays the piano … Son of Sarah and Donald Greeley; Sarah played basketball; Sarah played basketball at Duke and Donald played lacrosse at Brown … Brother, Nathan, swam at Boston College from 2015-19.
Why Harvard? "I chose Harvard because it provides an exceptional academic experience, team culture, and coaching staff."
 
Denny Gulia-Janovski
Event: Diving
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
High School: Pine Crest School
Before Harvard: Won three Diving National Championships in the platform event in 2015, 2016, and 2019 … Took second place in the platform event at the 2017 Junior Pan American Diving Games … Competed on the club level for Pine Crest Diving Team (2011-15), Fort Lauderdale Diving Team (2015-18), and Miami Diving Team (2018-22) … Member of Beta Club, English National Honor Society, Chinese National Honor Society, and Rho Kappa Social Science Honor Society … Son of Lioudmila and Alexei Gulia-Janovski.
Why Harvard? "I chose Harvard because of the great balance between athletics and academics, fantastic facilities, and even better coaches."
 
Nico Hensch
Event: Backstroke/Freestyle
Hometown: Newton, Mass.
High School: Newton South
Before Harvard: Gained Boston Globe All-Scholastic accolades as a junior and senior … Earned Dual County League All-Star honors four times … Set four Newton South team records in the 100 back, 200 free, 200 medley relay, and 400 free relay … Captured DCL and state titles in the 100 backstroke in 2021 … Claimed DCL titles in the 200 free and 100 back in 2022; came in third at the Division I state championships in the 100 back … Garnered Team MVP plaudits as a junior and senior … Served team as a captain as a senior … Won team's Rookie of the Year award in 2018-19 and team's Coach's Award in 2019-20 … Competed on the club level for Crimson Aquatics … Earned four varsity letters … Ran the 2022 Boston Marathon, raising over $10,000 for the Rett Syndrome Association of Massachusetts … Plays percussion … Son of Michela Fagiolini and Takao Hensch; Takao is a member of the Harvard men's swimming and diving Class of 1988 … Brother, Luca, is a member of the Harvard men's swimming and diving Class of 2022 and brother, Carlo, is a member of the Harvard Class of 2024.
Why Harvard? "I chose Harvard so I can challenge myself both academically and athletically without having to place one above the other due to the team's incredible support."
 
Ross Noble
Event: Backstroke, Individual Medley
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
High School: Millbrook
Before Harvard: Gained Team MVP honors in 2020-21 … Garnered NCS All-Star accolades in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020 … Helped team to NAC VI and CAP VII team runner-up finishes … Set team records for high school and club teams … Reached finals of 4A State Championships … Served team as a captain as a senior … Earned varsity letters from 2019-22 … Competed on the club level for YOTA Swim Team … Gained Academic All-Conference laurels … National Honor Society member … A Honor Roll student from 2019-22 … Son of Carol Muth and Derek Noble.
Why Harvard? "I chose Harvard because of its great team culture, atmosphere, coaches, athletic and academic excellence, and a great campus."
 
Saavan Shah
Event: Breaststroke, Freestyle
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
High School: Westminster
Before Harvard: Earned six All-America selections and four All-America Consideration awards over career … Captured All-America in the 100 breaststroke, 4x0 free relay, and 4x50 medley relay in 2022, 100 breaststroke and 4x50 free relay in 2021, and 4x50 medley relay in 2020 … Claimed All-America Consideration in the  50 freestyle in 2022 and the 4x50 medley relay in 2019, 2020, and 2021 … Gained First Team All-State all four years … Won five Georgia state titles over career, including four (100 breaststroke, 100 freestyle, 4x50 free relay, and 4x50 medley relay) as a senior and one (100 breaststroke) as a junior … Helped Westminster win four state titles in Class 1-3A from 2019-22 … Set school records in the 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, and 4x50 free relay; established the Westminster in the pool in the 100 breaststroke … Won Westminster team and high point accolades in 2021 and 2022 … Served team as a captain as a senior … Competed on the club level for Swim Atlanta (2011-16, 2018-22) and MAAC (2016-18) … Earned four varsity letters … Garnered the Harvard Prize Book Award as a junior … Gained the Swim Across America – Wavemaker Award in 2019 … Collected Scholastic All-America laurels in 2021 … Participated in Chess Club, Yearbook as Photography Editor, the South Asian Affinity Group, and WCAT as a sports broadcaster … Son of Rupal and Nikhil Shah.
Why Harvard? "I chose Harvard not only for its excellence in academics as well as athletics but also for the unique brotherhood that the swim team had to offer."
 
Raphael Tourette
Event: Diving
Hometown: Cupertino, Calif.
High School: Cupertino
Before Harvard: Won the 2022 Central Coast Section men's diving title … Captured the silver medal in men's diving at the 2022 CIF State Championships … Reached the semifinals at the USA Diving Junior Nationals 15 times … Claimed five USA Diving Zone E championships … Competed on the club level for Santa Clara Diving Club; participated in 1-meter, 3-meter, and platform events … Son of Marielle and Bruno Tourette … Brother, Geoffrey, is a member of the Harvard fencing Class of 2021, winning three individual men's foil Ivy League titles.
Why Harvard? "I chose Harvard because of its fantastic team, brilliant coaches, and unmatched athletic and academic opportunities."
 
Raglan Ward
Event: Freestyle
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.
High School: Cheyenne Mountain
Before Harvard: Earned Scholastic All-America accolades … Gained First Team All-State honors … Garnered team's Swimmer of the Year award … Helped team win the 2022 Colorado 4A Swimming and Diving state title … Won state title with record setting time … Served Cheyenne Mountain as a captain in 2021-22 … Competed on the club level for Pikes Peak Athletics; served team as a captain as a junior and senior … Earned four varsity letters … Also played basketball … National Merit Finalist and AP Scholar with Distinction student … National Honor Society member … Gained First Team Academic All-State laurels … Son of Christy and Bruce Ward; Christy played volleyball at Air Force and Bruce competed in swimming at Princeton.
Why Harvard? "I chose Harvard because of the amazing academics, coaching staff, and the awesome team atmosphere!"