Feb. 26, 2012
Full Results | Video: Celebration | Head Coach Bill Smyth
BOSTON - The Boston University men's and women's swimming and diving teams swept the 2012 America East Championship Sunday night in BU's Competition Pool. The BU men ended the four-day meet with a total of 896.5 points while the women accumulated 741 points. It marks the first time the BU men and women have captured the conference crown in the same year since the 1994 season.
The BU women won their seventh America East title and first conference crown since 2010 while the men earned their first championship since 2002.
Junior diver Melinda Matyas was named Diver of the Meet for the third-straight season after sweeping the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events. The Budapdest, Hungary native is undefeated in both diving events in the past three America East conference championships.
Freshman Connor Stuewe earned Rookie of the Meet honors, as the Monterey, Calif., native captured two second-place finishes, a fourth-place finish and was a member of three winning relay teams.
Head coach Bill Smyth, assistant coach Jen Strasburger and diving coach Agnes Gerlach-Miller were honored with the Men's Coaches Award.
Entering the final day of the meet with the lead, the BU women maintained their advantage through the final races and captured the conference title. In the first event of the day, sophomore Meghan Grimes posted a second-place finish in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 16:46.19. Junior Megan Happ came in right behind her to claim third place with a time of 16:48.27.
In the next event, the 200 backstroke, junior Katie Radin set a new school record as she touched the wall first in 1:59.72. Senior Francesca Ferrante also placed for the Terriers, coming in fifth (2:03.07). BU picked up another fifth-place finish in the 100 freestyle final, as sophomore Kendra Cheng finished with a time of 51.66.
Senior Kristen Connors set another school record for the Terriers' taking second place in the 200 breaststroke in 2:16.95. Classmate Amanda Schmitz followed in the 200 butterfly, finishing first with a time of 1:59.01 which set a new meet and school record. Rookie Katie Kenney also placed for BU in the 200 butterfly, finishing fifth in 2:03.02
In the 1-meter diving finals, Matyas captured the title with a final score of 280.30. Sophomore Chelsea Glincman took second place with 257.60 points.
In the final event of the meet for the women, the 400 freestyle relay, BU claimed third place with the team of Cheng, Schmitz, Alexsa Savage and Courtney Grace finishing in 3:27.45.
The BU men also began the final day of the meet with the lead and never relinquished the advantage. Sophomore Alec Pokornowski started it off for the Terriers with a third-place finish in the 1650 freestyle (15:51.40). Classmate Tim Bouvier took fourth in 15:53.26.
Fellow sophomore Nik Astashinsky earned points for the Terriers in the 200 backstroke, claiming third in 1:47.85 with rookie Connor Stuewe taking fourth in 1:48.06.
In the next event, senior Daniel Kempf captured first place in the 100 freestyle with a time of 44.52. Freshmen Cole Puchi (45.52) and Andy Vazquez (45.67) place fourth and fifth, respectively.
Sophomore Andrew Guinther was the top finisher for the Terriers in the 200 breaststroke, taking second in 2:02.32. Rookie Bryan Bonack (2:04.60) followed for fourth and classmate Rodrigo Gonzalez took fifth (2:04.95).
Another school record was set in the 200 butterfly, as sophomore Jeff Thomas placed second in 1:48.22. Freshmen Brandon Funk also earned points for BU with a fourth-place finish in 1:50.60.
In the final event of the meet, the team of Justin Gilmartin, Puchi, Stuewe and Kempf won the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:00.88 after UMBC disqualified.
2012 America East Award Winners
Women's Diver of the Year: Melinda Matyas
Men's Rookie of the Year: Connor Stuewe
Men's Coaching Staff of the Year: Bill Smyth, Jen Strasburger, Agnes Gerlach-Miller
2012 America East Men's Championship Team Standings
| Place |
Team |
Points |
| 1. |
Boston University |
896.5 |
| 2. |
UMBC |
842.5 |
| 3. |
Binghamton |
604.0 |
| 4. |
Stony Brook |
360.0 |
| 5. |
Maine |
316.0 |
2012 America East Women's Championship Team Standings
| Place |
Team |
Points |
| 1. |
Boston University |
741.0 |
| 2. |
UMBC |
704.0 |
| 3. |
New Hampshire |
649.5 |
| 4. |
Vermont |
366.0 |
| 5. |
Stony Brook |
331.0 |
| 6. |
Maine |
307.5 |
| 7. |
Binghamton |
285.0 |
