UNCW Repeats As CAA Men's Swimming And Diving Champion
Rob Washburn
Day 4 Final Results Championship Central Highlights
HAMPTON, Va. (February 25, 2023) – UNCW repeated as the CAA Men’s Swimming and Diving champions, capping an impressive four-day performance at the Hampton Aquaplex on Saturday.
The Seahawks scored a school-record 890 points and posted the largest margin of victory at the championship since 2016. It was the 15
th overall men’s championship for UNCW, which won 13 straight titles from 2002-14 before going back-to-back in 2022 and 2023.
Delaware finished second for the second year in a row with 606 points and Towson was third with 577.5 points. Drexel placed fourth with 507.5 points, followed by William & Mary (424.5) and Monmouth (241.5).
Towson junior Brian Benzing was honored as the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet for the second time in his career, while UNCW freshman Ethan Badrian was named the Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet. Three coaches shared the CAA Men’s Coach of the Year award – Towson’s Anthony Bruno, UNCW’s Bobby Guntoro and Delaware’s Pablo Marmolejo. Selected as the CAA Men’s Diving Coaches of the Year were Delaware’s Ryan Hunt and UNCW’s George Greenleaf.
Men’s 1650 Yard Freestyle
UNCW sophomore Sam O’Brien, who broke a CAA record in claiming the 500 free on Thursday, followed by repeating as champion in the men’s 1650 free with a time of 15:08.90 The effort was the fastest at the CAA championship since 2009. Delaware’s Andrew Taylor took second with a time of 15:25.31 and third place went to UNCW’s Silas Crosby with a time of 15:30.15.
Men’s 200 Yard Backstroke
Delaware sophomore Gavin Currie set a CAA all-time record in the men’s 200 back with a time of 1:42.35 to repeat as conference champion in the event. UNCW’s Sam O’Brien placed second with a time of 1:44.20 and finishing third in 1:45.38 was Delaware’s DJ Fechtman.
Men’s 100 Yard Freestyle
UNCW sophomore Jacob Duracinsky, who captured the 200 free on Friday, added the men’s 100 free title with a time of 43.37. Finishing second was Drexel freshman Sebastian Smith with a time of 43.67 and placing third in a time of 43.81 was Towson’s Michael Fazio.
Men’s 200 Yard Breaststroke
Drexel junior Kacper Karnik took the home the men’s 200 breast championship for the third consecutive year in a time of 1:57.37. He’s the first three-time champ in the event since 2011. Taking second in a time of 1:58.97 was Towson senior Noah Diacumakos and third place went to Delaware’s Evan Frick in a time of 1:59.14.
Men’s 200 Yard Butterfly
Drexel junior Kuba Kwasny used a strong finish to earn the men’s 200 fly title with a time of 1:44.45. Delaware’s Jack Hattery placed second with a time of 1:45.24 and William & Mary senior Noah Fields finished third in 1:45.69.
Men’s 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
UNCW broke the CAA all-time record in the men’s 400 freestyle relay with a time of 2:52.73, topping the previous mark of 2:54.07 set by William & Mary in 2020. The Seahawks’ team of Jacob Duracinsky, E’Likai Crompton-English, Henderson Louviere and Kenneth Lowe became UNCW’s first gold medal winner in the event since 2014. Towson also beat the previous league mark with a time of 2:53.68 to place second and third place went to Drexel with a time of 2:55.26.
Final Men’s Team Standings
- UNCW 890
- Delaware 606
- Towson 577.5
- Drexel 507.5
- William & Mary 424.5
- Monmouth 241.5
Most Outstanding Men’s Swimmer of the Meet: Brian Benzing, Towson
Most Outstanding Men’s Diver of the Meet: Ethan Badrian, UNCW
CAA Men’s Swimming Coaches of the Year: Anthony Bruno, Towson; Bobby Guntoro, UNCW; Pablo Marmolejo, Delaware
CAA Men’s Diving Coaches of the Year: Ryan Hunt, Delaware and George Greenleaf, UNCW