Lucky Number Seven
The UMBC men’s swimming and diving team has won its seventh consecutive America East Championship and 13th straight conference title overall after finishing with 926.5 points Sunday, February 28, in Boston. The women finished second for the second year in a row, scoring 681 points.
“We are very proud of our men and women. They performed with confidence and pride,” said Head Coach Chad Craddock ’97, who took over at the helm of the swimming and diving teams in 2001. “Our men were the clear underdogs going into the meet and came out proving they are champions. Our women’s determination made for a great competition. “
Senior Matt Mattingly broke the school record in the men’s 200 breast and earned silver in a time of 2:00.90, over four and a half seconds faster than his prelim time.
Junior Brad Reitz won the gold in the men’s 200 fly in an NCAA-provisional qualifying time of 1:47.81. Freshman Sandy Haibel earned the silver in a time of 1:51.94.
Sophomore Abbey McKenney broke the school record and earned gold in the women’s 100 free in an NCAA-provisional qualifying time of 50.17.
In their final events for UMBC, senior Tina Cantwell earned silver in the women’s 200 breast in 2:17.09, while fellow senior Tereza Kaplanova touched third in 2:18.74.
The Women’s Most Outstanding Rookie of the meet was awarded to Morrissette, who earned bronze in both the 200 and 400 IM and fourth in the 200 fly. UMBC’s coaching staff was named Co-Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
More information about the championships is online.
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