Swimming & Diving Programs Picked Second in AE Preseason Polls
October 5, 2011 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Oct. 5, 2011
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -
The Boston University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams were each chosen to finish second in the America East this season, the conference announced on Wednesday.
On the men’s side, BU earned two first-place votes and finished with 14 total points, just one point shy of first-place UMBC. The Retrievers picked up three first-place votes en route to 15 total points. Binghamton placed third with 10 points, followed by Maine (6 points) and Stony Brook (5).
The Terriers will have to cope without the 2011 Male Outstanding Swimmer in Kyle Ernst but will have another senior to step into that role. Daniel Kempf competed in seven events at last year’s championship and won six of them including the 50- and 100-yard freestyles. He was named honorable mention to the Mid-Major All-America team and will be a force again this year in the pool. Classmate Jackson Hill joins Kempf as the only remaining members of conference record-holding foursome in the 200-and 400-yard freestyle relay.
On the women’s side, BU picked up a pair of first-place votes and earned 32 total points. UMBC edged the Terriers with five first-place votes and 35 total points. New Hampshire is slated to finish third (26 points), with Vermont and Binghamton predicted to tie for fourth (18). Stony Brook (11) and Maine (7) rounded out the list.
The Terriers return several key components from last year’s squad as they vie for their third conference crown in four years. Junior Melinda Matyas, the 2011 America East Diver of the Meet, led a sweep of the top-three spots in the one-and three-meter diving events. She also set a conference scoring record in the three-meter event. Sophomore Chelsea Glinchman took silver in the diving events last year. Seniors Kristin Connors, who placed second in three separate events at the championship last year, and Katie Radin are primed for big seasons in the pool.
The women’s team will open its season on Friday, Oct. 14, when the Terriers welcome Houston to the Competition Pool. The following afternoon, both the men and the women will venture to Amherst, Mass., to swim against Massachusetts at 1 p.m.
