UNCW Captures Third Straight CAA Men's Swimming & Diving Championship
Rob Washburn
Final Day 4 Results | Highlights | Photo Gallery
HAMPTON, Va. (March 2, 2024) – UNCW captured its third consecutive CAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championship on Saturday night at the Hampton Aquaplex. It was the 16
th overall title for the Seahawks.
UNCW scored 885.5 points to claim the top spot in the standings, Delaware finished second with 753.5 points and Towson was third with 520 points. Drexel placed fourth with 482.5 points, followed by William & Mary (390.5) and Monmouth (187).
Towson senior Brian Benzing was honored as the Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet for the third time in his career, while UNCW sophomore Ethan Badrian repeated as the Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet. UNCW’s Bobby Guntoro was chosen as the CAA Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year for the third year in a row. Selected as the CAA Men’s Diving Coach of the Year was UNCW’s Gavrilo Blijden.
Men’s 1650 Yard Freestyle
UNCW junior Silas Crosby earned the 1650 free title with a time of 15:23.43. Seahawks freshman teammate Logan Adley placed second with a time of 15:30.82 and Delaware sophomore Dylan Smolders was third with a time of 15:36.12.
Men’s 200 Yard Backstroke
Delaware sophomore Kaloyan Levterov broke the CAA all-time and meet record in the 200 back with a winning time of 1:41.90. Two-time defending champion Gavin Currie of Delaware took silver in a time of 1:42.39 and 2021 champion Will Goldey of UNCW finished third with a time of 1:44.02.
Men’s 100 Yard Freestyle
Sophomore Sebastian Smith was the first Drexel swimmer since 2018 to win the 100 free, registering a time of 43.08. Defending champion Jacob Duracinsky of UNCW took silver with a time of 43.51 and William & Mary freshman Aiden Bond placed third with a time of 43.61.
Men’s 200 Yard Breaststroke
Delaware junior Toni Sabev became the first Delaware swimmer to ever capture the 200 breast, registering a winning time of 1:55.92. UNCW freshman William Carrico finished second with a time of 1:56.28 and three-time defending champion Kacper Karnik of Drexel received bronze with a time of 1:57.46.
Men’s 200 Yard Butterfly
Drexel senior Kuba Kwasny repeated as the CAA champion in the 200 fly, touching the wall in 1:43.77. Placing second in a time of 1:45.24 was Delaware senior Jack Hattery and Drexel’s Alessio Gianni took third with a time of 1:46.85.
Men’s 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
UNCW captured the 400 free relay for the second year in a row as the team of Mac Russell, Jacob Duracinsky, Robert Tars and Kenneth Lowe posted a winning time of 2:53.65. Placing second with a time of 2:54.72 was Drexel and finishing third with a time of 2:55.23 was Delaware.
Final Men’s Team Standings
- UNCW 885.5
- Delaware 753.5
- Towson 520
- Drexel 482.5
- William & Mary 390.5
- Monmouth 187
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 Coach of the Year: Bobby Guntoro, UNCW
CAA Men’s Diving Coach of the Year: Gavrilo Blijden, UNCW