University of Massachusets Athletics
Bomprezzi, MacLean Named UMass Winter Scholar-Athletes
March 30, 2016 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Academic Success
AMHERST, Mass. - Senior Alessandro Bomprezzi of the men’s swimming team and junior Heather MacLean of the women’s track team were honored on Wednesday, March 30 as the 2016 UMass Winter Scholar-Athletes. The duo were recognized at this afternoon’s Weekly Sports Luncheon for their high achievement both academically and athletically.
Bomprezzi served as co-captain of the 2016 Atlantic 10 Champion men’s swimming and diving program. This past February, the native of Rome, Italy, won both the 500 freestyle and the 1,650 freestyle at the league championship meet while taking second in the 200 free.
The five-time Atlantic 10 First Team honoree became the first-ever performer in A-10 history to win the 500 free in three consecutive seasons. The mechanical engineering major was the 2015 A-10 Most Outstanding Performer after winning both the 500 free and the 1,650 free. He will leave UMass as the school record holder in the 500 free; the 1,000 free; the 1,650 free; and as a member of the 800 free relay team. He also holds the second fastest time in program history in the 200 free.
MacLean, a psychology major, adds to her long list of accomplishments from the 2016 indoor track season after placing ninth in the mile at the NCAA Championships to earn Second Team All-America honors, becoming the program's first indoor All-American.
At the 2016 Atlantic 10 Championship she was tabbed the A-10 Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer, winning gold medals in the 800 meter, mile and distance medley relay, along with a bronze medal in the 4x400 meter relay.
The Peabody, Mass., native then followed up by capturing her third career indoor New England Championship title in the 800 meter and broke a 28-year-old meet record in the event.
In addition, she also set the Atlantic 10 Championship record in the 800 meter (2:09.06) and UMass records in the 800 meter (2:05.00), 1,000 meter (2:47.21) and mile (4:36.55) this indoor season.
MacLean recently earned Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference honors for indoor track and field after also receiving the accolade for cross country last fall.