Bryant and UMBC Capture Team Titles at America East Championships
The America East Conference crowned two new team champions over the weekend at its conference championships. On the women’s side, Bryant University secured the title with a margin of more than 100 points over second-place New Hampshire, followed by Vermont in third.
In the men’s meet, UMBC claimed the championship with 805.5 points. Binghamton finished second, while Bryant remained in contention throughout the four-day competition.
Wednesday
The meet featured an early lead from Bryant on the women’s side after it took a win and an America East record, VMI Aquatic Center pool record, and program record in the 200 medley relay with a 1:39.62 mark. That performance was produced by the team of Clara Steen, Jocie Niemczyk, Ruby Tonelli and Marcella Figueroa. Although it put up a fight, Bryant took second in the women’s 800 free relay in 7:20.92, with New Hampshire grabbing first in 7:20.52 behind Lydia Hart, Teagen Jeffers, Emily Wright and Sydney Leblic Garcia.
The UMBC men foreshadowed their overall success with a win in the 200 medley relay in 1:26.85, with a foursome of Quinn Marchionini, Sean Neils, Stefano Perez and Axel Mori. UMBC also took home the win in the men’s 800 free relay in 6:29.27 with Matthew So, Braden Weise, Tyler Kay and Andrew McEachern.
Thursday
UMBC’s men and Bryant’s women continued extending their leads on Day Two of the meet.
New Hampshire’s Hart opened the session with a commanding win in the 500 free, clocking 4:45.90 and finishing nearly seven seconds ahead of Bryant’s Katherine Bailey. Bryant responded in the 200 IM, placing four swimmers in the A-final, where Tonelli secured victory in 2:02.02. In the women’s 50 free, UMBC’s Ashley Gutshall took first in 22.25. Vermont showed strong depth with Havana Layton, Anastazja Szukal, and Ellie Fazio all finishing in the top eight. That trio, alongside senior Natalie Schick, went on to win the 200 free relay in 1:32.32, just missing their conference record from last year.
Binghamton’s Cam Stetzer claimed the men’s 200 IM title in 1:47.46. UMBC dominated the men’s 50 free, sweeping the top four spots as Perez and Weise tied for first in 19.87, followed by Neils (20.01) and Mori (20.03). The quartet later teamed up to capture the 200 free relay in 1:18.65, winning by nearly two seconds.
Friday
Bryant’s women continued their strong meet on Friday night, highlighted by Tonelli breaking her own America East record in the 100 fly with a 53.10. UMBC’s Alice Marini captured the 400 IM (4:20.99), while New Hampshire’s Hart defended her 200 free title in 1:47.80. Bryant added another win through Niemczyk in the 100 breast (1:01.58), and Vermont’s Schick claimed the 100 back (54.86). Bryant capped the session with a victory in the 400 medley relay (3:41.34).
UMBC’s men maintained their lead, though Binghamton stayed close behind. Maine’s Joey Stauss won the 100 fly (46.64), and Binghamton’s Harrison Lambert took the 400 IM (3:55.07). Binghamton also saw Evan Peters win the 200 free (1:36.79) and Stetzer touch first in the 100 breast (53.99). UMBC freshman Marchionini secured the 100 back (48.03) before Marchionini, Neils, Perez and Weise closed the night with a 400 medley relay win (3:13.37).
Saturday
Bryant’s women sealed the team title on Saturday, finishing more than 100 points ahead of defending champion New Hampshire. The session opened with Hart winning the 1650 free in 16:28.27, followed by Vermont senior Schick edging UMBC’s Marini by just .01 in the 200 back (1:58.94). UMBC’s Gutshall delivered another big swim, breaking the conference record in the 100 free with a 49.20. Bryant added victories from Tonelli in the 200 fly (1:59.21), while Binghamton’s Julia Iwanow claimed the 200 breast (2:15.57). New Hampshire closed the meet with a conference record in the 400 free relay (3:21.08).
UMBC’s men captured the team championship, finishing nearly 50 points ahead of two-time defending champion Binghamton. NJIT freshman Yonatan Ahdut won the 1650 free (15:29.98), and Bryant freshman Zach Proulx secured the 200 back (1:45.66). UMBC dominated again the 100 free, led by Weise’s championship-record 43.58, with Neils, So and Mori taking the top four spots. That same group capped the meet with a conference-record swim in the 400 free relay (2:55.53). NJIT’s Borys Endle added a decisive win in the 200 breast (1:56.32), while Maine’s Stauss closed his meet with a victory in the 200 fly (1:46.53).
Women’s Team Standings
- Bryant University – 775
- University of New Hampshire – 660
- University of Vermont – 613
- University of Maryland Baltimore – 446
- Binghamton University – 403
- University of Maine – 314
- Virginia Military Institute – 159
Men’s Team Standings
- University of Maryland Baltimore – 805.5
- Binghamton University – 748
- Bryant University – 572.5
- Virginia Military Institute – 423
- New Jersey Institute of Technology–353
- University of Maine – 347
