University of Massachusets Athletics
Men's Swimming Announces Signing Of Recruit
May 11, 2001 | Men's Swimming & Diving
May 11, 2001
AMHERST, Mass. -- University of Massachusetts men's swimming head coach Russ Yarworth has announced the signing of Matt Woodward (Waterboro, Maine) as part of the 2001 incoming class for the Minutemen.
Woodward has been a two-year captain of the swim team at Massabesic High School where he earned the Most Valuable Swimmer Award and qualified for the U.S. Open Swim Meet this year for the second time in his career. He set four individual and three relay school records as a senior as he was selected as the Maine State Swimmer of the Year by the Portland Press Herald and the Maine Sunday Telegram. Woodward also received the Paulsen Award for Outstanding Swimmer at the Maine State H.S. Swimming Championships. He is the Southern Maine record holder in the 100 breast and was the Southwestern Maine champion in the 100 breast and 100 free.
"Matt is vital to the UMass program as he will be inheriting the breaststroke chores from Atlantic 10 Champion Billy Brown and senior Mike Sabina," said Yarworth. "He has the raw talent and great attitude that predict the UMass breaststroke tradition will be in good hands."
As a junior, Woodward was named the Southwestern Maine Swimmer of the Year as he was the state champion in the 100 breast and 200 IM. He qualified for the USA Swimming Junior Nationals. As a freshman in 1998, he earned team Rookie of the Year honors. Woodward has also earned varsity letters in baseball, football, soccer and track & field, and was a member of the state champion Class A football team in 2000 as he received second team Southern Maine Athletic Association accolades as a kicker and defensive back.
Woodward was the Vice President of his class and has been a member of the honor roll. As a freshman he was his school's representative at the Southern Maine Sportsmanship Seminar.
UMass won its fourth Atlantic 10 title on Feb. 15-17, the first since winning three in a row from 1996-98, as Yarworth was named A-10 Coach of the Year for the third time in his career.