The UMBC men's and women's swimming and diving squads will compete in the 2024 America East Championships at the VMI Aquatic Center, beginning on Wednesday, Feb. 14 and concluding on Saturday, Feb. 17.  

All links are listed under the Feb. 14 date on the men's and women's schedule page of umbcretrievers.com or at America East Championship Central. Ticket information and VMI's Clear Bag Policy can also be found under the Championship Central link.

Meet Facts & Figures
Location:                       VMI Aquatic Center
Dates of Competition:    Wednesday, Feb.14 – Saturday, Feb. 17
America East Championship Central

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Defending Champions: UNH (women), UMBC (men)

UMBC In America East Championship History
Women's Titles (7): 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2011, 2008, 2007

• UMBC has captured seven league seven titles …The Retrievers have finished first or second in 15 of 18 championship appearances.

Men's Titles (14): 2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004

• UMBC has won 14 of the 16 championships, finishing in second to Boston University in 2012 and to Binghamton in 2021… The league did not hold championships for the men from 2014-17.
• Junior Oliver Gassmann earned the Swimmer of the Meet award in 2023, after Niklas Weigelt, '23  earned the top honor in 2021 and 2022.       

 Retrievers To Watch (Women)

• Loujy Abdellatif - Named Rookie of the Meet at the 2022 America East Championships...Placed third in the 100 butterfly and fourth in the 200 IM and 200 butterfly in Worcester
• Bruna de Padua – The UMBC newcomer earned America East Conference Swimmer of the Week honors on Oct. 10. She has recorded season best times for the Retrievers in the 200, 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle events.
• Roaa Farag - Placed fourth in the 200 freestyle at the America East Championship… Placed eighth in 200 free at 2021 Championships… Won the "B' final (9th place) in the 200 freestyle at the 2023 America East Championships
• Makaela Hill -  A two-time finalist in individual competition at 2022 America East Championships, placing third in the 100 freestyle and fifth in the 50 free… Fourth in the 50 freestyle and seventh in the 100 free in 2021 AE Championships…  Captured silver in the 50 freestyle at the America 2023 East Championships and earned two additional silvers as part of the 200 and 400 freestyle relays in Worcester
• Rola Hussein -  A two-time finalist at the 2022 America East Championship and earned a silver in the 100 backstroke, finishing just behind champion Caroline Sargent.
• Telma Maltesjö - Peaked at the end of her initial season, earning a spot in two finals at the 2023 America East Championship… Earned a silver medal in the 200 breaststroke in Worcester and finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke
• Nyah Stahl - A three-time finalist at the 2022 America East Championships (100/200 backstroke, 400 IM)… Earned a spot on the podium with a third-place finish in the 200 back… Placed fourth in the IM and sixth in the 100 back and recorded personal best in all three finals… A two-time finalist at the 2023 America East Championships, placing sixth in the 200 backstroke and seventh in the 400 IM
• Ember Stennett – The freshman diver led the way for the women, placing sixth on both boards and recording season-best scores in both events in the season-ending Navy Invitational.   On the 1-meter board, she amassed a season-best 239.55 points and bested 15 of 21 competitors. On the 3-meter board, the Retriever newcomer logged a tally of 237.10.

America East Leaders:
Event               Retriever                                  Time/Score/Site
200 Free           Bruna de Padua                        1:49.91 (Bucknell Invitational)
 
 Retrievers to Watch (Men)
 

• Max Casey-Bolanos, A two-time finalist at 2023 America East Championships, finishing sixth sixth in the 200 backstroke and eighth in the 100 back… A three-time America East finalist in the 500 freestyle and both backstroke events at the 2022 Championships… Placed sixth in the 500 free… Finished fourth in 100 back in 2021 AE Champs.

• Christian Coleman, A two-time finalist at the 2023 America East Championships, including a third-place finish in the 50 yard freestyle… Also took fourth in the 100 free and was a part of the Retrievers' 400 freestyle relay winning quartet

• JJ Chapman, A three-time finalist and two-time bronze medal winner at the 2023 America East Championships…Took third place in the 200 individual medley and the 200 backstroke in Worcester

• Zach Deal, Posted a fourth place finish in the 100 yard breaststroke at the 2023 America East Championships

• Oliver Gassmann, Selected as the 2022-23 America East Conference Scholar-Athlete for the sport of men's swimming and diving… Selected to 2023 America East All-Academic Team… Earned 2023 America East Conference Swimmer of the Meet honors, capturing both butterfly events and the 50-yard freestyle… He also swam on both medley relay gold medal-winning quartets and the ultimate race of the meet, a UMBC record-setting victory in the 400 freestyle relay… Named America East Men's Swimming Rookie of the Meet at the 2022 Championships… Won the 100 and 200 butterfly events at his first championship meet.

• Bode Neale, Earned three golds and a silver as part of four relays squads at the 2023 America East Championships… Competed in the finals of all three sprint freestyle events and posted a fourth-place finish in the 50 free…A three-time finalist at the 2022 America East Championships, posting a second-place finish in the 200 freestyle and a fourth-place effort in the 100 free…The 2021 AE champion in the 100 freestyle, placed second in the 200 freestyle.

• Dani Nicusan, Selected to 2021-22 and 2022-23 America East All-Academic Teams… Won three individual golds at the 2023 America East Championships (200 IM, 100 and 200 breaststroke)… Set pool, meet and conference record in capturing both breaststroke events… Set a meet record while winning the 200 breaststroke at the 2022 America East Championships, defending his title…Captured another gold in the 200 IM …Won the 200 breaststroke, second in the 100 Breast and third in 200 IM at 2021 Championships.

• Ethan Riser, The 2020 America East Champion in the 200 butterfly… Best 2021 finish was fourth in the same event. Earned silver – and was just edged by teammate Oliver Gassmann – in the 200 butterfly at the 2022 America East Championships… Also competed in the finals of the 100 butterfly in 2022… Posted a third-place effort in the 200 butterfly at the 2023 America East Championships, earning his fourth career individual medal

• Max Trias, Produced a strong 2023 America East Championships' meet, earning bronze in the 400 IM and finishing fifth in the 200 breaststroke… A two-time finalist at the 2022 America East Championships, placing fifth in the 200 breaststroke and eighth in the 200.

 

• Andy Vines, The freshman earned a pair of America East Conference Diver of the Week honors (Oct. 31, Dec. 5). He is ranked third in America East on the both the 1M and 3M boards.  

America East Leaders

• Event               Retriever                                  Time/Score/Site
• 100 Breast        Daniel Nicusan                          54.05 (Thomas Murphy Invitational)
• 200 Breast        Daniel Nicusan                          1:59.39 (Thomas Murphy Invitational)
• 100 Fly             Oliver Gassmann                      46.30*  (Bucknell Invitational)
• 200 Fly             Oliver Gassmann                      1:45.42 (Bucknell Invitational)

*school record