University of Massachusets Athletics
Wednesday, February 25
Evansville, Ind. (Deaconess Aquatic Center)
11:30 A.M. / 6:30 P.M.
University of Massachusetts
vs
Missouri Valley Conference Championships
Men’s Swim & Dive Sets Two Program Records On Day One Of MVC Championships
February 25, 2026 | Men's Swimming & Diving
The 200 freestyle relay team recorded a new school mark of 1:20.56, while the 400 medley relay team marked a new school record of 3:14.61.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Massachusetts men's swimming and diving team completed day one action at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships on Wednesday evening at the Deaconess Aquatic Center. UMass sits in sixth with 251 points after day one.
The Minutemen's two relay teams set new school records on the day.
The 200 freestyle relay team consisting of senior Aidan Shepston, freshman Liam Hickey, freshman Macek Vandermolen and senior Sammy Quigg kicked off the finals events with a fifth-place finish. The team recorded a time of 1:20.56, which marked a new school record in the event, breaking a previous record of 1:20.96 from the 2015-16 season accomplished by Owen Wright, Brian Stiles, Kellen Gray and Wiktor Karpinski.
Additionally, the 400 medley relay team of Hickey, sophomore Nate Derby, freshman Hudson Bawduniak and Quigg set a new school record of their own, swimming a time of 3:14.61 to finish fifth. The team broke the previous record of 3:15.71, in which Quigg also anchored along with Beau Bengston, Freddie Borg and Grant Beebe during the 2023-24 season.
During the 200 freestyle relay, Shepston registered a 50 freestyle split time of 20.47, marking a personal-best and the eighth best in program history. Hickey posted a split time of 49.15 in the 100 backstroke in the 400 medley relay, which also marked a personal-best and was the seventh best time in program history.
Junior Jude Boukarroum swam a season-best time of 4:28.75 in the 500 freestyle B-Finals to earn 10th. Freshman Sota Kawahata finished 20th with a season-best time of 4:31.50.
In the 200 individual medley, sophomore Chase Keeler took 11th with a season-best time of 1:48.99, followed by Derby in 16th with a time of 1:51.91.
Quigg led the way in the 500 freestyle finals, recording a season-best time of 20.39 to place 10th. Shepston was close behind in 12th with a mark of 20.53, followed by Vandermolen in 15th with a time of 20.72. Hickey earned 17th with a season-best time of 20.76.
In the preliminaries, Vandermolen had a season-best time of 20.64 in the 50 freestyle that helped him advance to the finals.
On The Boards
Sophomore Alex Kreidler and freshman Carson Harrington competed in the one-meter dive preliminaries, as Kreidler advanced straight to the finals after placing fifth with a score of 288.45 and Harrington earned a spot in the consolation semifinals after scoring a 249.40 to take 13th.
In the consolation round, Harrington took third with a six-dive total of 291.80, which placed him 11th overall.
Kreidler finished the finals round in fourth-place with a score of 296.40.
Up Next
Day two of the MVC Championships continues in Evansville, Indiana, at the Deaconess Aquatic Center on Thursday, February 26. The preliminary events are set for an 11:30 a.m. start, while the finals begin at 6:30 p.m.
The Minutemen's two relay teams set new school records on the day.
The 200 freestyle relay team consisting of senior Aidan Shepston, freshman Liam Hickey, freshman Macek Vandermolen and senior Sammy Quigg kicked off the finals events with a fifth-place finish. The team recorded a time of 1:20.56, which marked a new school record in the event, breaking a previous record of 1:20.96 from the 2015-16 season accomplished by Owen Wright, Brian Stiles, Kellen Gray and Wiktor Karpinski.
Additionally, the 400 medley relay team of Hickey, sophomore Nate Derby, freshman Hudson Bawduniak and Quigg set a new school record of their own, swimming a time of 3:14.61 to finish fifth. The team broke the previous record of 3:15.71, in which Quigg also anchored along with Beau Bengston, Freddie Borg and Grant Beebe during the 2023-24 season.
During the 200 freestyle relay, Shepston registered a 50 freestyle split time of 20.47, marking a personal-best and the eighth best in program history. Hickey posted a split time of 49.15 in the 100 backstroke in the 400 medley relay, which also marked a personal-best and was the seventh best time in program history.
Junior Jude Boukarroum swam a season-best time of 4:28.75 in the 500 freestyle B-Finals to earn 10th. Freshman Sota Kawahata finished 20th with a season-best time of 4:31.50.
In the 200 individual medley, sophomore Chase Keeler took 11th with a season-best time of 1:48.99, followed by Derby in 16th with a time of 1:51.91.
Quigg led the way in the 500 freestyle finals, recording a season-best time of 20.39 to place 10th. Shepston was close behind in 12th with a mark of 20.53, followed by Vandermolen in 15th with a time of 20.72. Hickey earned 17th with a season-best time of 20.76.
In the preliminaries, Vandermolen had a season-best time of 20.64 in the 50 freestyle that helped him advance to the finals.
On The Boards
Sophomore Alex Kreidler and freshman Carson Harrington competed in the one-meter dive preliminaries, as Kreidler advanced straight to the finals after placing fifth with a score of 288.45 and Harrington earned a spot in the consolation semifinals after scoring a 249.40 to take 13th.
In the consolation round, Harrington took third with a six-dive total of 291.80, which placed him 11th overall.
Kreidler finished the finals round in fourth-place with a score of 296.40.
Up Next
Day two of the MVC Championships continues in Evansville, Indiana, at the Deaconess Aquatic Center on Thursday, February 26. The preliminary events are set for an 11:30 a.m. start, while the finals begin at 6:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
Breast/Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Fly/Free/Back
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Breast
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Breast/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Back/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
IM/Back
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Back/Fly
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