CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Two America East swimming and diving programs returned to the pool over the weekend and opened the new year with wins. UMBC and University of Vermont were propelled to wins thanks in part to the stellar performances of this week’s America East Swimmers and Diver of the Week. UMBC senior Eric Jones (Gambrills, Md./Arundel) grabbed Male Swimmer of the Week accolades while Vermont senior Kate Weaver (South Burlington, Vt./South Burlington) took the Female Swimmer of the Week nod and junior teammate Lauren Colby (Andover, Mass./Andover) earned Female Diver of the Week honors.
Jones helped lead the Retrievers to a sweep of Drexel and Howard Saturday. The senior won each of his two individual events, taking the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 21.40 and the 100-yard fly with a time of 51.52. Jones was also part of the Retrievers’ first-place teams in the 200 medley relay and the 400 free relay.
Weaver helped the Catamounts defeat Central Connecticut State on Sunday afternoon at home, 218-73. The senior won a pair of events and also was a member of a first-place relay team. She led the Cats to a podium sweep in the 200 individual medley, posting a time of 2:10.86. Weaver also won the 200 backstroke in 2:04.15. Additionally, she swam a leg of the 200 medley relay team that finished first in 1:50.06.
Colby swept the one- and three-meter diving events in Vermont’s win over Central Connecticut. She finished first in the one-meter dive with a score of 217.85 and then went on to win the three-meter dive with a score of 209.17.
Binghamton University has not yet opened the 2011 portion of its schedule. The Bearcats return from their break this weekend when they host Niagara this Friday before travelling to Buffalo for a meet against the Bulls on Saturday.
Boston University did not compete over the weekend. The Terriers kick off 2011 against South Dakota in Honolulu, Hawaii this week. The Terriers will then host Brown on January 15.
University of Maine also had the weekend off. The next meet for the Black Bears is set for Saturday when they host Providence in Orono, Maine.
The UMBC swimming and diving teams returned to action for the first time since November. Both the men’s and women’s teams swept Drexel and Howard in Philadelphia, Pa. on Saturday. The UMBC men defeated the Dragons, 187-122, and the Bison, 234-63. Four male Retrievers won each of their two individual events. Senior Eric Jones (Gambrills, Md./Arundel) won the 50 free and 100 fly, while fellow senior Brad Reitz (Ellicott City, Md./Howard) took home the 200 free and 200 IM crowns. Junior John Mendenhall (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) swept the 100 and 200 breast events, while freshman Reed Neuendorf (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappan Zee) won the 500 and 1,000 free. The Retriever women posted a 169-116 win over the Dragons and a 183-97 victory over the Bison. The women’s 200-yard medley relay team of junior Kathryn Moorby (Cape May, N.J./Lower Cape May Regional), freshman Talor Tadena (Orangevale, Calif./Bella Vista), senior Sarah Ryan (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Oceanside) and junior Abbey McKenney (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) broke the Drexel Pool record in a time of 1:48.09. McKenney was one of three female Retrievers to win each of their two individual events, taking both the 50-yard freestyle and the 200 backstroke. Senior Rebecca Godwin (Catonsville, Md./Notre Dame Prep) earned gold in the 200 free and the 200 breaststoke, while sophomore Tara Morrissette (Somersworth, N.H./Saint Thomas Aquinas) won the 200 butterfly and the 200 IM. Next up for the Retrievers is a dual meet against Marist at home January 22.
University of New Hampshire has not yet returned to competition from the winter break. Next up for the Wildcats is a dual meet against conference-rival Boston University January 17.
Stony Brook University did not compete over the weekend. The Seawolves return to the pool January 19 when they host a dual meet against Lafayette.
University of Vermont returned to action on Sunday after a month-long layoff with a 218-73 victory over visiting Central Connecticut State. Vermont finished first in 13 of 16 events against the Blue Devils. The Catamounts were led by junior swimmers Avery Pittman (Raleigh, N.C./Enloe), Caitlin Dowd (Setauket, N.Y./Ward Melville), senior Kate Weaver (South Burlington, Vt./South Burlington) and junior diver Lauren Colby (Andover, Mass./Andover), who each won a pair of events for the Catamounts. Pittman swept the butterfly events, leading a one-two-three finish in each. She won the 100 in 58.93 and was followed by sophomores Nicole Peruso (Branford, Conn./Branford) and Chelsea Krisanda (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder). Pittman then won the 200 (2:10.50), with Krisanda taking second and Peruso third. Dowd won both the breaststroke events, as she also led Vermont to a podium sweep in both. She won the 100 in a time of 1:08.32, with freshmen Emily Metta (Norwood, Mass. / Norwood Senior High) second and Eva Wimberley (Howell, N.J./Colts Neck) in third, and also took first in the 200 in 2:26.30, with Metta and junior Jordan Schweizer (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) following. Weaver led a Cats sweep in the 200 IM, as she won in a time of 2:10.86. Krisanda and sophomore Karole-Ann Bayer (Richmond, Va./Saint Gertrude) rounded out the top three. Weaver also won the 200 back (2:04.15), while freshman Emily Alexander (Stittsville, Ontario/Sacred Heart) was second. Colby wrapped up the multiple event winners by finishing first in both the one and three meter dives. Colby won the one-meter with a score of 217.85 and scored a 209.17 to finish first in the three-meters. The Catamounts return to action on Saturday when they travel to face Navy, while the following day they will be at Dartmouth.