Massachusetts Swimming & Diving Prepare For A-10 Dual At Fordham

AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts swimming and diving prepare for an Atlantic 10 dual against Fordham University on Saturday, February 3, at the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center in Bronx, New York. The meet will be streamed on YouTube at 1 p.m.

Last Time Out
Massachusetts competed at the two-day Tate Ramsden Invitational, hosted by Dartmouth, on Friday, January 19 through Saturday, January 20. The Minutemen fell 240-94 to Dartmouth, while the Minutewomen dropped to Dartmouth, 254-69 and to fell to Northeastern, 273-51.

Sophomore Andrew Bell and senior Juan Montori combined for three individual gold medals on the day, with Bell securing first in both the one- and three-meters dives and Montori placed first in the 100 breaststroke.

School Records Set
Fifth-year student Summer Pierce achieved two individual school records this season, while helping two relay teams to new program records. She finished the 100 butterfly with a new record time of 53.77, before setting another school record in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:59.68 at the Terrier Invite (11/17-19). Pierce also aided the 400 medley relay team (3:43.71) and the 200 medley relay team (1:42.15) to new school record times at the same invite.

Sophomore Sammy Quigg set a new school record in the 100 freestyle, swimming a time of 44.02 at the Terrier Invitational (11/17-19). Bell broke two school records in a dual meet against Boston University (11/4). In the 1-meter dive, he tallied a six-dive total of 385.43, while scoring a six-dive total of 397.28 in the 3-meter to rank first in school history. He broke his own record in the 1-meter, once again, vs. Bryant, with a score of 409.05.

Fast Freshmen
The freshmen on both squads have had impressive showings this season, garnering several season- and personal-bests. For the Minutewomen:

Diya Ackerman Vallala swam five season-bests and has five personal-bests on the season
- 100 freestyle (relay leadoff) – 53.35
- 1,650 freestyle – 18:14.68
- 100 breaststroke – 1:04.65
- 200 breaststroke – 2:21.04
- 200 individual medley – 2:05.57
Lindsay Burbage posted seven season-best times and one personal-best time this season
- 200 individual medley – 2:09.46
Beren Cakiroglu recorded seven personal-bests on the year
- 50 freestyle (relay leadoff) – 24.04
- 50 freestyle – 24.39
- 100 freestyle (relay leadoff) – 52.10
- 100 freestyle – 52.01
- 200 freestyle (relay leadoff) – 1:52.33
- 200 freestyle – 1:52.06
- 200 individual medley – 2:06.19

For the Minutemen:

Jude Boukarroum finished with six season-best times on the season, including a 16:53.74 qualifying mark in the 1650 freestyle for the CSCAA Championships in March 2024.
Aydin Erkan earned seven season-best times and three personal-bests. He achieved a season-best time of 16:52.70 in the 1650 freestyle and his personal-best time helped Erkan qualify for the CSCAA Championships in March 2024.
- 100 butterfly – 51.20
- 200 butterfly – 1:49.88
- 200 individual medley – 1:59.25
Alonso Montori collected four season-best times and two personal-bests on the season.
- 50 freestyle – 21.84
- 200 breaststroke – 2:12.41

Diving In
On the boards, sophomores Salem Howes and Shreeya Sinha have competed for the Minutewomen. Howes recorded personal-bests in the one-meter dive against Boston University with a score of 246.15, while scoring 231.45 in the three-meter dive against Yale. Sinha dove for the first time this season in the dual meet against Yale, scoring 169.43 in the one-meter dive and 174.53 in the three-meter dive.

For the Minutemen, Bell recorded qualifying scores for the NCAA Division I Men's Championships for March 2024, in the three-meter against Boston University in a dual meet, tallying a score of 397.28 in the three-meter, to claim first in the event and take the top spot in the all-time school/pool records. Against Bryant, Bell recorded a school record of 409.05 in the three-meter. Zak Teffahi joined Bell on the boards, scoring season-bests of 186.08 in the one-meter and 192.90 in the three-meter dive.

Weekly Honors
The Minutewomen have had four members earn Atlantic 10 weekly awards this season, while one Minuteman has garnered a weekly honor.

Bri Williams

A-10 Women's co-Performer of the Week (10/10)

Beren Cakiroglu

A-10 Women's Rookie of the Week (10/10)

Lindsay Burbage

A-10 Women's Rookie of the Week (11/8; 1/16)

Summer Pierce

A-10 Women's co-Performer of the Week (11/29)

Sammy Quigg

A-10 Men's Performer of the Week (11/29)

Andrew Bell

A-10 Men's Performer of the Week (1/16)

Next Up
UMass will take a break and ready for the A-10 Championships on Wednesday, February 21 through Saturday, February 24. The event will start at 10 a.m., before the evening sessions start at 6:30 p.m.

Scoreboard