William & Mary captured its third consecutive CAA Men’s Swimming and Diving title on Saturday night at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center, totaling 953.50 points over four days.
The Tribe’s three-peat at the championships is that much more impressive, considering that coach Matt Crispino’s program never won a CAA Championship on the men’s side prior to 2015. W&M never gave up its lead over the four-day title meet, and secured wins in four of the five team relays for the second straight year. Crispino earned CAA Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year honors for the fourth straight season, according a vote by the league’s head coaches.
Drexel obtained 752 points for second place, matching its best finish at the championships all-time. Towson placed third, collecting 597.50 points, while sophomore Jack Saunderson was named Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet.
Saunderson swept both butterfly events – the 100 and 200 – setting new championship meet records in each victory. Drexel freshman Jason Arthur tied with Saunderson for the individual points lead with 56.
UNCW finished fourth (445.50), and Delaware placed fifth (342.50).
For the second straight year, William & Mary won the CAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championship, the program’s third overall title, accumulating 749.50 points over the four-day title meet at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.
Tribe senior Jaimie Miller won Most Outstanding Women’s Swimmer of the Meet, becoming the Tribe’s second consecutive honoree for the championship’s top individual award. Miller swept both freestyle events - the 50 and 100 - and had the most individual points of any competitor at the title meet with 60.
James Madison finished second with 700.50 points, Towson followed in third with 505.50 points. Drexel took home fourth with 443 points, Northeastern earned fifth place with 421 points. UNCW and Delaware rounded out the remaining two spots in the standings.
Drexel’s Adam Braun and Dane Pederson were both picked as the Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year. JMU’s John Wolsh earned Women’s Diving Coach of the Year honors, and Dukes’ senior Olivia Lehman capped her career with consecutive Outstanding Women’s Diver of the Meet accolades.
Saturday Finals: 1650-Yard Freestyle | 200-Yard Backstroke | 100-Yard Freestyle | 200-Yard Breaststroke | 200-Yard Butterfly | 400-Yard Freestyle Relay
1650-Free
Saturday night kick-started with a victory by Towson sophomore Ashley Illenye, who clocked a time of 16:40.07. Last year, Illenye finished third in the event. Defending champion Morgan Smith of William & Mary finished second (16:46.07), and teammate Maria Oceguera (16:50.53) followed in third.
200-Back
Drexel freshman Alexa Kutch won her second gold medal of the championships, fittingly earning a sweep in both backstroke events. Kutch broke a meet and all-time conference record tonight, timing 1:55.12. William & Mary’s Sophie Rittenhouse (1:56.16) finished second and Towson’s Jacy Icard placed third (1:58.09). Rittenhouse won the event in 2016.
100-Free
William & Mary’s Miller completed the sweep in both freestyle events for the second straight season, cruising to a first-place time of 49.21. Two freshmen rounded out the top 3 – Northeastern’s Megan Clark (50.07), JMU’s Bonnie Zhang (50.36).
200-Breast
After becoming the first-ever Dragon to win an individual title at the CAA Championships in 2016 – both the 100 and 200-breast events – senior Rachel Bernhardt accomplished the feat again. Bernhardt recorded a first-place time of 2:12.60, while the Tribe managed to secure the next three spots in order. Claire Williams won silver (2:15.64), Allie Christy (2:16.91) won bronze, and Shannon Harrington finished fourth.
200-Fly
Abby Mack placed third a year ago in the event, but turned in a gold performance for the Tribe. The sophomore timed 2:00.82, with UNCW’s Megan Johnson securing silver (2:01.27) and fellow W&M swimmer Maria Oceguera joining the podium in third (2:01.86).
400-Free Relay
The Tribe capped the Day 4 finals with another freestyle relay win, their second of the championships after capturing the 200-free relay on Wednesday. Georgia Crompton, Katie Sell, Annie Miller and Jaimie Miller touched the wall first in 3:21.22, with James Madison and Drexel following in second and third.
Women’s Teams Standings - Final
William & Mary (749.50)
James Madison (700.50)
Towson (505.50)
Drexel (443)
Northeastern (421)
UNCW (291)
Delaware (236.50)
Championship Award Winners
Women's Swimming Coaches of the Year: Dane Pederson, James Madison; Adam Braun, Drexel
Women’s Diving Coach of the Year: John Wolsh, James Madison
Most Outstanding Women’s Swimmer of the Meet: Jaimie Miller, William & Mary
Most Outstanding Women’s Diver of the Meet: Olivia Lehman, James Madison
