University of Massachusets Athletics
Swimming And Diving Head To Binghamton To Battle The Bearcats
November 04, 2010 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Nov. 4, 2010
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass men's and women's swimming and diving teams head to Binghamton University Friday for a two day meet against the Bearcats. Last week both teams swept Stony Brook, the men won 184-114, and the women won 159-141. Both teams now sit at 2-1 on the season and look to remain undefeated all-time against the Bearcats.
The men put up a good win last weekend against Stony Brook. They were led by freshman Derek Hursch and Chris Inglis. Both received Atlantic 10 honors for their performances. Hursch was named Performer of the Week for winning the 100-yard backstroke (54.77) and the 400-yard IM (4:09.95) and assisting in the first-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay along with Max Butler, Brian Schmidt and Eric Zeimetz. For Hursch this is his third honor in as many weeks, he has received Performer of the Week twice and Rookie of the Week once. Inglis was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for his performance against Stony Brook. He picked up his first first-place finish of his collegiate career by winning the 200-yard breaststroke (2:17.01). He also had a second place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (1:45.41) and a third place finish in the 400-yard IM (4:20.10). Freshman Troy Nichols also picked up his first career win in the 1000-yard freestyle (10:12.80).
Junior Joey Sbordon and senior Max Butler are two others who are leading the way for the Minutemen this year. Sbordon holds the top times in all the Atlantic 10 in the 500-yard freestyle (4:43.7) and the 1000-yard freestyle (9:46.4), while Butler has the top time in the 100-yard backstroke (52.1) and the second best time in the 200-yard backstroke (1:54.6).
On the diving board against Stony Brook the trio of John Clark, Conor Dunn and Alexander Merkulov. The three of them were able to sweep the one and three-meter dives. Clark finished first in the one-meter with a score of 263.18 followed by Merkulov (251.93) and Dunn (224.03). In the three-meter Dunn placed first with a score of 263.40 followed closely by Merkulov (261.60) and Clark (255.60).
For the Minutewomen it was junior Chelsea Downing that led the way against Stony Brook. She secured two first place finishes in both the 1000-yard freestyle (10:52.78) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:14.97) along with a second place finish in the 400-yard IM (4:39.14). Freshman Anna Cavanaugh placed first in the 100-yard butterfly (1:00.05) and placed second in the 200-yard freestyle (1:58.05) and the 100-yard freestyle (53.98). She has been a key addition to the women's team this season; she currently holds the seventh best time in the A-10 in the 100-yard freestyle (53.6) and the fifth best in the 200-yard freestyle (1:55.6).
Senior Jessica Starosielec has been another solid performer for the Minutewomen thus far this season. She currently holds the top time in the conference in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.7) and the fifth best time in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:27.8).
On the diving board for the women, sophomore Molly Elkins and junior Hannah Swift have been consistent performers. Last week against Stony Brook, Elkins won both the one-meter (228.90) and three-meter (234.75) dives and Swift placed second in both with scores of 197.40 in the one-meter and 216.98 in the three-meter.
Both teams will be back in action the weekend of November 19th as they head to Boston to participate in the Terrier Invitational.