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University of Massachusets Athletics
Swim Teams Ready For A-10 Championship
February 20, 2011 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 20, 2011
AMHERST, Mass. - After months of grueling practice and preparation the UMass men's and women's swimming and diving teams have reached the pinnacle of their season: the Atlantic 10 Championship. Held in Buffalo, N.Y. at Erie Community College, it is scheduled over a four-day stretch starting on Wednesday February 23 and finish up Saturday evening. The Minutemen have been selected to win their fifth consecutive title in voting conducted by the league's head coaches, while the Minutewomen were selected to finish third.
Last Year At The Atlantic 10 Championship
Men's coach Russ Yarworth was once again named A-10 Coach of the Year, his conference record 11th time winning the honor. Diving coach Mandy Hixon swept both the Men's and Women's Diving Coach of the Year awards for the second year in a row. Jason Cook was also named Diver of the Year for the second-straight year.
Andrew Willbrant continued to have an outstanding meet as the top individual performer for the Minutemen. Willbrant earned his third gold medal of the meet, winning the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:48.62. Teammate Max Butler finished just behind him in second, notching a time of 1:49.47.
Sophomore Joey Sbordon earned his first gold medal of the meet, winning the 1650 free with a time of 15:49.59, while teammate Justin Brooks helped combine for the one-two finish, taking second with a time of 15:52.49.
Senior Juan Moliere swam a personal best time in the 100 free, notching a time of 45.23 to take the silver medal and place him third on the UMass all-time list, adding on to the gold that he won in the 50 free earlier in the weekend. Teammates Chris Howard and Trevor Ziegler joined Moliere in the top-eight, both with personal best times. Ziegler took fifth with a time of 45.83, while Howard took sixth with a time of 45.84, placing them ninth and tenth respectively on the UMass all-time top-ten list.
A Winning Tradition
After claiming their fourth consecutive Atlantic 10 title, the Minutemen have now won twelve titles in the past sixteen years in the league. Since the A-10 began crowning champions no team has been more successful than UMass. The team will be looking to tie the record for most consecutive titles won. The current record of five was set by the Minutemen between the 2001-2005 seasons. No other coach has won more Coach of the Year awards the Russ Yarworth. Yarworth earned his tenth such honor last season.
So Far This Season
The Minutemen finished the season 6-1 in dual-meets while claiming first at both the Rhode Island Invitational and Dartmouth Invitational and third at the Terrier Invitational. The only loss for the Minutemen came in the first meet of the season as they fell to Boston University.
They remained undefeated all-time against Stony Brook and Binghamton, while they increased an already impressive record against Boston College.
Against A-10 opponents the Minutemen have been dominant. They defeated Fordham in their only conference dual-meet of the season, 171-127. UMass also finished ahead of George Washington and La Salle in the Rhode Island Invitational.
Leading The Way
The Minutemen currently own six top times in the A-10, along with being in the top three in nearly every event. Senior captain Max Butler leads the way in the 100 backstroke with a time of :50.55.
Chris Inglis leads in the 1000 free (9:29.40), and now owns a new school record. Joey Sbordon is ahead in the 500 free (4:36.14) while Jason Cook sits atop the one-meter dive (334.50).
The Minutemen also have conference best times in two relays. The 200 medley relay team of Butler, Peter Sacco, Christopher Howard and Trevor Zeigler with a time of 1:32.49. The 800 free relay team of Sbordon, Inglis, Troy Nichols and Derek Hursch set a time of 6:47.45
Players Mentioned
