Photo by: Eliza Nuestro
Terrier Twelve - #9: Swimming & Diving Continues Upward Trend
July 9, 2026 | General, Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
Returning for an 18th year, the Terrier Twelve recognizes the top achievements of Boston University teams and student-athletes from the previous year. Check back each Monday and Thursday this summer as we unveil this year's Terrier Twelve on GoTerriers.com.
Coming in at No. 9 in this year's Terrier Twelve is the swimming & diving program, which enjoyed impressive improvements across both the men's and women's teams with contributions from all four classes.
The Terriers broke 10 school records and three pool records over the course of the season and set a program best with five divers qualifying for NCAA Zones.
At the Patriot League Championships, BU had the biggest point improvements from the previous year on both sides and recorded a combined 12 podium finishes. The team collected a total of eight All-Patriot League honors, the most since 1997, and swept the conference coaching awards for the women.
Leading the way at the PL Championships was Alayna Kennedy, who became the first freshman in conference history to sweep the diving events en route to Women's Diver of the Year honors. Senior Haley Newman became the first Terrier to medal all four years in the same event at the PL meet with another podium finish in the 400-meter individual medley.
The men had their first relay podium finish since 2019 with a bronze and school record in the 800 freestyle relay and junior Zein Mahana was the first BU men's diver to reach the PL podium in 10 years, taking bronze in the 3-meter. The women's 400 medley relay, comprised of four freshmen, had the highest finish ever, taking silver.
BU scored 187 more points on the women's side compared to the 2024-25 season and had an increase of 309.5 points on the men's side. The staff swept the women's coaching awards with both the swimming and diving Coaching Staffs of the Year.
Throughout the year there were a combined top-10 program times and 38 of them were recorded by underclassmen. The team collected weekly Patriot League awards throughout the season with 18 total awards (3 Women's Swimmer; 5 Men's Diver; 2 Women's Diver; 2 Men's Rookie; 6 Women's Rookie) and only one of those awards went to a senior.
Senior Tony Ponomarev went on to receive the E. Ray Speare Award, given to BU's top male scholar-athlete in the senior class, becoming just the second swimmer in the past 15 years to earn the honor.
Coming in at No. 9 in this year's Terrier Twelve is the swimming & diving program, which enjoyed impressive improvements across both the men's and women's teams with contributions from all four classes.
The Terriers broke 10 school records and three pool records over the course of the season and set a program best with five divers qualifying for NCAA Zones.
At the Patriot League Championships, BU had the biggest point improvements from the previous year on both sides and recorded a combined 12 podium finishes. The team collected a total of eight All-Patriot League honors, the most since 1997, and swept the conference coaching awards for the women.
Leading the way at the PL Championships was Alayna Kennedy, who became the first freshman in conference history to sweep the diving events en route to Women's Diver of the Year honors. Senior Haley Newman became the first Terrier to medal all four years in the same event at the PL meet with another podium finish in the 400-meter individual medley.
The men had their first relay podium finish since 2019 with a bronze and school record in the 800 freestyle relay and junior Zein Mahana was the first BU men's diver to reach the PL podium in 10 years, taking bronze in the 3-meter. The women's 400 medley relay, comprised of four freshmen, had the highest finish ever, taking silver.
BU scored 187 more points on the women's side compared to the 2024-25 season and had an increase of 309.5 points on the men's side. The staff swept the women's coaching awards with both the swimming and diving Coaching Staffs of the Year.
Throughout the year there were a combined top-10 program times and 38 of them were recorded by underclassmen. The team collected weekly Patriot League awards throughout the season with 18 total awards (3 Women's Swimmer; 5 Men's Diver; 2 Women's Diver; 2 Men's Rookie; 6 Women's Rookie) and only one of those awards went to a senior.
Senior Tony Ponomarev went on to receive the E. Ray Speare Award, given to BU's top male scholar-athlete in the senior class, becoming just the second swimmer in the past 15 years to earn the honor.
Players Mentioned
Dive
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Dive
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Fly/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Back/IM
/ Men's Swimming & DivingThursday, July 09
Monday, July 06
Monday, July 06
Monday, June 29
