UNCW Men and Women Hold Narrow Leads After Day 1 Of CAA Swimming & Diving Championship
Rob Washburn
Day 1 Results
HAMPTON, Va. (February 28, 2024) – The defending champion UNCW men’s and women’s teams took a narrow lead on the opening night of the 2024 CAA Swimming & Diving Championships on Wednesday evening at the Hampton Aquaplex. There were a pair of CAA all-time records set as the Delaware men’s 200 medley relay team broke their own mark from a year ago and Towson All-American Brian Benzing swam the fastest 200 free time in conference history as part of the Tigers’ first-place 800 free relay team.
In the men’s competition, UNCW is in first place after Day 1 with a score of 114 points, while Delaware is close behind with 111 points. Towson is in third with 98 points, followed by Drexel (89 points), William & Mary (56 points) and Monmouth (52 points).
In the women’s competition, only 20 points separate the top six squads. UNCW is on top with 120 points, Delaware is second with 112 points and Northeastern is third with 108 points. William & Mary is close behind in fourth (106 points), followed by Towson (102), Drexel (100), Campbell (92), Monmouth (88) and Stony Brook (80).
Women’s 200 Yard Medley Relay
UNCW got the night started by winning the 200 medley relay for the first time since 2012. The Seahawks team of Quinn Bike, Gil Shaw, Cameron Snowden and Emily Waite posted a time of 1:38.89, which was just .36 seconds shy of the conference all-time record. William & Mary, which won the event the past three years, placed second in 1:39.32 and Northeastern finished third in 1:40.21.
Men’s 200 Yard Medley Relay
The Delaware team of Gavin Currie, Toni Sabev, Simeon Sabev and Matvei Namakonov broke the CAA all-time and meet record they set a year ago, claiming the top spot in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:24.56. The time beat their previous mark by 0.36 seconds. Drexel posted a second-place finish with a time of 1:25.25 and Towson took third with a time of 1:25.58.
Men’s 1-Meter Dive
UNCW earned the top two spots in the men’s 1-meter diving competition. Junior Nic Newis, who was the CAA champion in 2022, returned to the top spot on the podium with a score of 319.20. Seahawks’ sophomore Ethan Badrian, who won the event in 2023, took silver with a score of 313.50. Placing third was Delaware sophomore Kevin Siegfried with a score of 310.65.
Women’s 800 Yard Freestyle Relay
Delaware repeated as the CAA champion in the women’s 800 free relay as the team of Lauren Hartel, Anthi Lyra, Olivia Willemsen and Erin Shema posted a time of 7:15.40. UNCW took second place with a time of 7:19.86 and Northeastern finished third in a time of 7:21.95.
Men’s 800 Yard Freestyle Relay
In a thrilling finish, Towson captured the 800 free relay for the first time since 2021 as the team of Brian Benzing, Stephen McDonald, Sean Colson and Luke Schwar finished in 6:24.96. Benzing’s leadoff time of 1:34.55 set a new CAA all-time record in the 200 free. UNCW placed second with a time of 6:25.52 and Delaware was third with a time of 6:31.82.
Action resumes on Thursday morning at 10 a.m. with swimming trials. The finals of nine events will take place on Thursday evening starting at 6 p.m. All action from the CAA Swimming and Diving Championship can be seen on FloSwimming. For more information, visit CAASports.com/SD.
Men’s Team Scores (after Day 1)
- UNCW 114
- Delaware 111
- Towson 98
- Drexel 89
- William & Mary 56
- Monmouth 52
Women’s Team Scores (after Day 1)
- UNCW 120
- Delaware 112
- Northeastern 108
- William & Mary 106
- Towson 102
- Drexel 100
- Campbell 92
- Monmouth 88
- Stony Brook 80