UMass Men, Richmond Women Win Atlantic 10 Titles

Photo Courtesy: John Reid/Atlantic 10

The Massachusetts men and Richmond women captured the 2016 Atlantic 10 Swimming and Diving Championship titles at the SPIRE Institute Saturday.

The victory marks the Minutemen’s second consecutive A-10 men’s championship and third in the last five years. UMass, who finished with 671 points, held the lead after every day of competition. The Minutemen got off to a good start Saturday evening thanks to Alessandro Bomprezzi and Kyle Vieira taking gold and bronze, respectively, in the 1,650-yard freestyle.

St. Bonaventure finished in second with 482 points on the men’s side. UMass and St. Bonaventure were followed by La Salle (473.5), Saint Louis (457.5), George Washington (398), George Mason (396), Davidson (371) and Fordham (272.5).

George Washington’s junior Andrea Bolognesi was honored as the Men’s Most Outstanding Performer after recording first-place finishes and setting A-10 records in the 100-yard breaststroke (52.44), the 100-yard butterfly (47.18) and the 200-yard IM (1:46.54). He was also a member of the silver-medal winning 400-yard medley relay, the bronze-medal winning 200-yard medley relay and the fifth-place 200-yard freestyle relay teams

UMass’ Kellen Gray and Trent Kindvall were named Men’s Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Diver, respectively. Gray finished fourth in the 100-yard backstroke and fifth in the 200-yard backstroke. The Minutemen’s Trent Kindvall was honored as the Most Outstanding Diver after finishing first in the 3-meter dive with a score of 290.75. He also recorded a third-place finish in the 1-meter dive with a score of 285.90.

In the 200-yard butterfly, Fordham senior Steve Sholdra set an A-10 record with an NCAA “B” qualifying time of 1:47.10. Saint Louis’ 400-yard freestyle relay team took gold, as did Michael Pilyugin in the 200-yard backstroke, Ryan McCoy in the 100-yard freestyle and Johan Roth in the 200-yard breaststroke.

Massachusetts’ Russ Yarworth and Mandy Hixon were named the A-10 Coach of the Year and Diving Coach of the Year, respectively.

For Richmond, the title marks the Spiders’ sixth consecutive A-10 crown and 14^th in the last 15 years. The Spiders led after every day of competition, and finished with a total of 653.5 points. Richmond started the evening off strong with a bronze-medal performance in the 1,650-yard freestyle by freshman Nicole Piercy (16.56.17), which helped her earn Women’s Most Outstanding Rookie. They also got a gold medal in 3-meter diving from Irina Chiulli (303.30).

Duquesne University finished in second-place with 487 points, after Sam Ray set an A-10 record in the 100-yard freestyle (49.47). The Women’s Most Outstanding Performer, Elise Lankiewicz, led Davidson to a third-place finish with 466 points. She recorded first-place in the 1,650-yard freestyle (16.39.65), the 200-yard freestyle (1:46.92) and the 500-yard freestyle (4:44.88).

Trailing Richmond, Duquesne and Davidson in the final standings were Massachusetts (397), Fordham (392), George Mason (345), Rhode Island (204), La Salle (198), George Washington (197), St. Bonaventure (187) and Saint Louis (172.5).

Fordham’s Megan Polaha set an A-10 record in the 200-yard butterfly (1:58.46) and Davidson’s 400-yard freestyle relay also set an A-10 record (3:19.65). Other winners were Duquesne’s Lexi Santer in the 200-yard backstroke and Davidson’s Katy Williams in the 200-yard breaststroke.

Massachusetts’ Emma Roush was honored as the Women’s Most Outstanding Diver after finishing first in the 1-meter dive (290.80) and third in the 3-meter dive with a score of 266.85.

Matt Barany and Sean Letsinger of Richmond won Women’s Coach of the Year and Diving Coach of the Year, respectively.

Atlantic 10 contributed this report.

2016 A-10 Men’s Swimming & Diving Awards

Most Outstanding Performer: Andrea Bolognesi, George Washington
Most Outstanding Rookie Performer: Kellen Gray, Massachusetts
Most Outstanding Diver: Trent Kindvall, Massachusetts
Coach of the Year: Russ Yarworth, Massachusetts
Diving Coach of the Year: Mandy Hixon, Massachusetts

2016 A-10 Women’s Swimming & Diving Awards

Most Outstanding Performer: Elise Lankiewicz, Davidson
Most Outstanding Rookie Performer: Nicole Piercy, Richmond
Most Outstanding Diver: Emma Roush, Massachusetts
Coach of the Year: Matt Barany, Richmond
Diving Coach of the Year: Sean Letsinger, Richmond

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