Swimming & Diving Teams Set to Host America East Championship
February 21, 2012 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 21, 2012
2012 America East Swimming & Diving Championship Central | Psych Sheet | Live Results
Boston University will host the 2012 America East Swimming and Diving Championships from Thursday, February 23 to Sunday, February 26 at BU’s Competition Pool. The women’s team looks to return to the winner’s platform after back-to-back conference championships in 2009 and 2010, while the men’s team will vie for its first title since 2002. Both teams finished second in last year’s league meet.
After being edged by UMBC in Baltimore at last year’s conference championship, the women look to return to the top of the America East in their home facility. Sophomore Kendra Cheng leads BU in the 100m and 200m freestyle events, as she owns top five times in the conference in both races. Senior Amanda Schmitz figures to lead the Terriers in the distance events, as she owns the league’s fastest time in the 1000m freestyle and second fastest finish in the 500m freestyle.
Fellow senior Kristen Connors is poised for success in the breaststroke events, owning the conference’s top times in the 100m and 200m events.
BU will look to repeat its performance from last year’s championship in the diving events, as the Terriers finished 1-2 from both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. Last year’s AE Diver of the Meet Melinda Matyas returns with the conference’s highest score from the 3-meter board and second best score off the 1-meter board. Sophomore Chelsea Glincman also returns after finishing second in both diving events last season.
On the men’s side, the Terriers will look to knock off UMBC for the top spot in the conference, as the Retrievers have claimed the title the past eight seasons. After winning six events at last year’s championship, senior Daniel Kempf returns owning top times in the 50m and 100m freestyle, as well as the 100m butterfly.
Sophomore Jeff Thomas figures to earn points for the Terriers, owning top five times in the 100m and 200m butterfly, 100m breaststroke and 500m freestyle. Rookies Connor Stuewe and Cole Puchi are also poised for big performances, with Stuewe being a top contender in the backstroke events and Puchi leading the way in the freestyle sprints.
