2022 America East Championships
- February 10-13, 2022
- Worcester Polytechnical Institute
- SCY (25 Yards)
- FULL MEET RESULTS
FINAL TEAM SCORES
WOMEN
- New Hampshire – 814.5
- UMBC – 752.5
- Vermont – 677
- Binghamton – 459
- Maine – 391
- VMI – 157
MEN
- UMBC – 921.5
- Binghamton – 874.5
- NJIT – 664
- Maine – 333
- VMI – 293
New Hampshire and UMBC held on to win the 2022 America East Women’s and Men’s team titles respectively. UMBC and Binghamton kept it close on the women’s and men’s sides, but ultimately they didn’t have enough to take the lead.
With the win, UNH claims their 3rd consecutive and 10th overall America East women’s title, marking the most team titles in conference history. UMBC has now won their 13th America East men’s title. America East only began sponsoring men’s swimming 15 years ago, meaning UMBC has won 13 titles in the last 15 years.
One of the most thrilling races of Sunday night came in the women’s 200 back, where UMBC Caroline Sargent beat out New Hampshire’s Anna Metzler, the defending champion and conference record holder in the event. Sargent took a slight early lead, and managed to hold on as Metzler attempted to close. At the finish, Sargent was 1:56.14, Metzler 1:56.41. With the swim, Sargetn also broke the America East Championship Record.
What a finish! @UMBCSwimDive's Caroline Sargent beats the meet record holder in the 200 back, setting a new #AEChamps record! pic.twitter.com/PfDhjfLPho
— America East (@AmericaEast) February 13, 2022
Anna Metzler went on to win the women’s 200 fly in decisive fashion. She was out 2.6 seconds faster than anyone else on the first 100 (57.28), and she led the field with her back half (1:03.68). Her final time of 2:00.96 was exactly 3 seconds ahead of runner-up Madison Linstedt, her UNH teammate.
Vermont freshman Ella Church put up a dominant performance in the women’s 1650, clocking a 16:55.56 to touch first by 15.5 seconds. In her first America East Champs, Church was at least 2 seconds ahead of everyone else when she flipped at the 200 mark, and only grew that lead as the race continued to develop.
Kai Wisner (UMBC) was also dominant in the men’s 1650 free, posting a 15:38.05 to touch first by 13 seconds. The race was tight for the first 200 yards, but after that, Wisner opened up a lead that would grow through the end of the race.
UMBC picked up a win in the men’s 200 back, where Luka Zuric got out to a big early lead, and managed to hold on through the back half. Zuric finished in 1:45.35. Niklas Weigelt, another Retriever, won the men’s 100 free with a 43.83, touching first by over a second.
The Retrievers picked up the rest of the men’s events on the day as well. Daniel Nicusan clocked a 1:57.56, posting the fastest split in the field on each of the last 3 50s. Freshman teammate Oliver Gassmann took the men’s 200 fly in 1:47.59.
Niklas Weigelt, Gabe Laracuente, Ryan Harding, and Bode Neale teamed up for a 2:57.98 to win the 400 free relay and close out the meet.
Jenna Gwinn (UMBC) put on a show in the women’s 200 breast, swimming a 2:14.49 to touch first by 3.5 seconds. Impressively, Gwinn posted the fastest split in the field on all 4 50s of the race.
