BOSTON – The Boston University
men’s swimming and diving team ended UMBC’s eight-year title reign, capturing
its first America East team title since 2002. For the first time since 1994,
the Terrier men celebrated their title with the Terrier women, who collected
their third championship in four years.
Both
Boston U. teams took leads into the final day of the America East Championship
Meet and did not look back. The Terrier men won two events on Sunday and finished
with 896.5 points while UMBC settled for second with 842.5 points. Binghamton
placed third with 604 points while Stony Brook grabbed fourth with 360 points
and Maine took fifth with 316 points.
The
Terrier women captured three gold medals on the final day to seal their title,
finishing with 741 points. UMBC made a strong push at a comeback but came up
short with 704 points. New Hampshire placed third with 649.5 points. Vermont
grabbed the fourth-place spot with 366 points, finishing just ahead of Stony
Brook with 331 points. Maine (307.5) and Binghamton (285) round out the
championship field.
Boston
U.’s championship effort was fueled by Daniel Kempf, who took home his third
individual gold of the meet when he won the 100 freestyle in 44.52. The Terrier
men also finished first in the 400 freestyle relay as Kempf touched the wall
after the final leg in 3:00.88. The meet’s Most Outstanding Rookie was awarded
to Connor Stuewe after he placed fourth in the 200 backstroke today and second
in both the 200 free and the 100 back earlier in the meet
UMBC
made things interesting on the final day taking gold in three individual
events. Pierre De Waal picked up his third win of the weekend, taking the 200
fly in a meet and America East record time of 1:46.68. John Mendenhall came
from behind on the final length of the 200 breaststroke to grab gold while
Mohamed Hussein capped off an impressive weekend with a win in the 200 back
(1:46.70). Hussein received the meet’s Most Outstanding Swimmer award. In
addition, Andrew Eckhoff collected Most Outstanding Diver accolades after his
sweep of the diving gold.
Also
in men’s action on Sunday, Binghamton’s Nolan Slesnick regained championship
gold in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 15:34.41. The senior won the same
event in 2009 and finished his four-year championship career with the most
points of any swimmer in that same span netting him the Coaches’ Award.
The
Boston U. women received a meet-record performance from Amanda Schmitz in the
200 fly (1:59.01), a gold-medal swim in the 200 back by Katie Radin (1:59.72) and
Melinda Matyas scored her second straight America East Championship diving
sweep by taking gold in the one-meter competition. Matyas received Most
Outstanding Diver honors.
UMBC’s
Abbey McKenney wrapped up a stellar four-year career by winning her seventh
career America East gold medal, and third of this championship, by winning the
100 freestyle in 50.48. McKenney finished her championship meet career with 215
points to earn the Coaches’ Award.
After
record-breaking swims on Friday and Saturday, New Hampshire’s Katie Mann won
the 200 breaststroke on Sunday and will head back to Durham with the meet’s
Most Outstanding Swimmer and Most Outstanding Rookie awards. Lauren McCandless
also won the 1650 freestyle for the Wildcats on the final day of competition.
The Coaching Staffs of the Year awards went to
Boston University on the men’s side and New Hampshire on the women’s side.