Grace Nordquist, Swimming World College Intern.
It’s the final day of the CAA Championship meet, and Towson’s Jack Saunderson saved the best for last, capturing the meet’s first swimming NCAA A cut standard time. On the women’s side, Alexa Kutch goes down in CAA history as well, becoming the second ever to sweep the backstroke events three years in a row.
Before the night of racing began, the CAA honored the senior swimmers as some competed for their last time ever tonight.
The James Madison women would defend their CAA championship title with 726 points and William & Mary claimed the men’s title for the fifth year in a row at 925.5 points.
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Women’s team scores:
James Madison: 726
William & Mary: 657
Towson: 555.5
Drexel:393.5
UNC-Wilmington: 389.5
Northeastern: 356.5
Delaware: 293
Men’s team scores:
William & Mary: 925.5
Drexel: 692
UNC-Wilmington: 619.5
Towson: 533
Delaware: 195
Women’s 1650
Winning the 1650 in a time of 16:18.65 to qualify an NCAA B cut was JMU’s Julianna Jones. In second was Megan Bull (W&M) in 16:45.55, and third Madison Oster (JMU) in 16:52.38. Finishing fourth was Carly Schnabel (Northeastern), fifth Lauren Soleo (JMU), sixth Norah Hunt (W&M), seventh Bailey Butler (JMU), and eighth Meghan Jones (Towson).
Men’s 1650
Winning the 1650 for the third time was William and Mary’s Carter Kale in a time of 15:22.91, an NCAA B cut standard. Behind him was teammate Chris Balbo (W&M) in 15:26.43, and Patrick Cobb (Drexel) claims third in 15:37.60. Fourth was Avery Gambill (UNC-Wilmington), Kevin Basch (Delaware) fifth, Aidan Snively (UNC-Wilmington) sixth, Bryce Ciecko (Delaware) seventh, and Evan Brophy (Towson) will finish eighth just breaking the 16 minute mark.
Women’s 200 Back
Alexa Kutch (Drexel) becomes the second CAA swimmer ever to sweep the backstroke events three years in a row. Kutch defends her title in a time of 1:55.43 just missing her own CAA record, but getting an NCAA B cut standard. Tara Tiernan (W&M) and Bailey Smith (Northeastern) went second and third, both breaking the two minute barrier in 1:59.53 and 1:59.87. Sonora Baker (W&M) takes fourth, Alicia Diaz (Drexel) fifth, Ellie Henry (W&M) sixth, Haley Sutton (Towson) seventh, and Meghan Jones (Towson) eighth.
Men’s 200 Back
Jason Arthur (Drexel) will claim his third title with the 200 back in a time of 1:44.87, an NCAA B cut standard, coming just short of the CAA all-time record of 1:44.13. Jake Kealy (W&M) claims second with a time of 1:45.67 and Lee Bradley (W&M) will touch just before Zach Bishop (Towson) for third, in a time of 1:47.10. Joey Rento (W&M) takes fifth, Brent Hoshall (UNC-Wilmington) sixth, Owen Robinson (Towson) seventh, and Jack Galbraith (W&M) eighth.
Women’s 100 Free
Bonnie Zhang (JMU) with yet another outstanding finish, out touching Megan Clark (Northeastern) for first by only .05 in a time of 48.50, an NCAA B cut and only .03 off the CAA all-time record. Clark also claims a NCAA B cut at 48.55. Evan Arsenault (UNC-Wilmington) also breaks the 50 second mark, touching third in 49.88. Annema Schnoor (Towson) takes fourth, with Faith Pilcher (UNC-Wilmington) fifth, Jillian Breeger (JMU) sixth, Ryan Ulrich (Towson) seventh, and Sydney Kirsch (JMU) eighth.
Men’s 100 Free
Colin Wright (W&M), after breaking the CAA all-time record in prelims, touches first breaking his own record and the Christianburg Aquatic Center pool record in the time of 42.63 an NCAA B cut standard. Matthew Essing (Towson) touches second in 43.96, just missing the NCAA B cut standard by .11. Sean Cannon (UNC-Wilmington) will claim third at 44.37, Ian Thopmson (W&M) fourth, Jack Cosgrove (UNC-Wilmington) fifth, Eric Grimes (W&M) sixth, Kiran Richardson (Drexel) seventh, and Christopher Pfuhl (W&M) who just made the A final by .01, eighth.
Women’s 200 Breast
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Amanda Rosa (Towson) will take first in the 200 breast in a time of 2:15.04. Megan Sicinski (UNC-Wilmington) claims second in 2:16.87, and Megan Johnson (UNC-Wilmington) right behind in third with a time of 2:16.87. Taylor Draganosky (Delaware) takes fourth, Clarie Williams (W&M) fifth, Gabrielle Rudy (Drexel) sixth, Megan Marsh (JMU) seventh, and Jacalyn Schoening (Towson) eighth.
Men’s 200 Breast
The 200 Breast came down to the finish, with Brook Peterson (W&M) out touching Josh Rigsbee (UNC-Wilmington) by only .01. Peterson would claim gold in 1:59.70 and Rigsbee second 1:59.71. Ben Skopic (W&M) hits third with a time of 2:00.09. Ian Bidwell (W&M) takes fourth, Joseph Brown (Drexel) fifth, Ralph Cannarozzi lll (Drexel) sixth, Gianmichel D’Alessandro (UNC-Wilmington) seventh, and Zachary Valenzuela (Drexel) eighth.
Women’s 200 Fly
Maria Oceguera (W&M) just missed breaking the two minute mark, touching first with the time of 2:00.18. Megan Cowan (Towson) claims second in 2:01.48, and Morgan Whaley (JMU) hits third in 2:01.89. Mina Feyrer (Delaware) takes fourth, April Forsthoffer (Drexel) fifth, Maddi Mangum (Towson) sixth, Julia Capobianco (Delaware) seventh, and Julia Bland (W&M) eighth.
Men’s 200 Fly
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Jack Saunderson (Towson) wins his third and final individual event of the meet breaking the CAA all-time record and getting himself an NCAA A cut with the time of 1:40.63. Paris Raptis (Drexel) claims second and an NCAA B cut in the time of 1:45.26. Nick McClure (Towson) jumps to third in 1:48.21, two seconds faster than his prelim swim. Joe Short (Drexel) takes fourth, John Klein (Drexel) fifth, Steven Thalblum (W&M) sixth, Connor Forsythe (UNC-Wilmington) seventh, and Jack Doherty (W&M) eighth.
Women’s 1 Meter Diving
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JMU scores big, taking the top three spots in the women’s 1-meter diving. Lenora Byrum (JMU) claims gold with 281.35 points and an NCAA A cut, Emily Gross (JMU) silver with 268.30 points also an NCAA A cut, and Samantha Ullman (JMU) bronze with 262.30 points. Emily Wilson (Towson) takes fourth, Faith Anderson (JMU) fifth, Brianna Urich (UNC-Wilmington) sixth, Victoria Zozzaro (Towson) seventh, and Rebecca Demaree (Drexel) eighth.
Women’s 400 Free Relay
After getting disqualified in last night’s relay, JMU comes back to win the 400 Free Relay in a time of 3:20.78, just short of the CAA all-time record. The winning relay consisted of Jillian Breeger, Sydney Kirsch, Bonnie Zhang, and Mackenzie Gring. In second was W&M’s Missy Cundiff, Megan Bull, Maria Oceguera, and Annie Miller with a time of 3:23.40. Third was Northeaster, fourth UNC-Wilmington, Towson fifth, Drexel sixth, and Delaware seventh.
Men’s 400 Free Relay
For the second year in a row, William & Mary’s men’s team takes all five relay titles. The relay of Colin Wright, Ian Thompson, Christopher Pfuhl, and Eric Grimes finished in the new CAA all-time record time of 2:55.92. In second was UNC-Wilmington’s Tom McGovern, Jack Cosgrove, Gianmichel D’Alessandro, and Sean Cannon in 2:58.72.Third was Towson, fourth Drexel, and fifth Delaware.
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