BALTIMORE - The UMBC swimming and diving teams have been quite busy in the first few weeks of the new year.

Head Coach Matt Donovan and his staff resurrected the Florida Training Trip and the team spent the first week of 2023 in the Sunshine State. The Retrievers returned and faced local rivals Howard and Towson in a span of five days (four for the divers).

To cap it off, UMBC will honor 25 graduate students, fifth-years and seniors competing in their final home meet on Saturday, Jan. 21. The Retrievers will take on George Mason at 1:00 p.m. and that group will be honored in a pre-meet ceremony at 12:40 p.m.

In Wednesday's meet at Towson, graduate student Caroline Sargent produced three of six second-place finishes by the Retrievers, while posting a school record in the 100-yard individual medley. Sargent completed the seldom-scheduled race in 58.88, besting the previous mark of 1:00.45, set by Laura Massicotte in 2018.

Sargent also finished second in the 50 and 100 yard backstroke events.

Senior Makayla Ludwick earned silver in the 500 yard freestyle, while junior Makaela Hill placed second in the 50-yard freestyle. Senior Sierra Tosten placed second in the 50-yard butterfly, posting a time of 25.07, just .12 seconds behind the victor.

The George Mason Patriots have not visited UMBC since the Retrievers joined the America East Conference in 2003-04. The teams competed in Fairfax, Va. in January, 2020 and UMBC came away with a 166-127 victory. Sargent won the 200 backstroke and senior Kylie Kelly triumphed in the 500 freestyle.  

The UMBC divers will travel to Bucknell to compete on Saturday, Jan. 28.