ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy swimming and diving teams put together a strong Saturday of competition to successfully close out the Patriot League Championship at Lejeune Hall in Annapolis, Md.
 
The Navy women's team totaled 927 points to win the meet by 391 points over Bucknell, while the men's team tallied 1,095.5 points to close with a 374.5-point margin of victory over second-place Army.
 
With the win, the Navy women's team set the Patriot League record for the most titles won by a team in a single sport. The Mids and Bucknell's women's indoor track and field team have each won 18 Patriot League titles since the league's inception in the 1990-91 school year. This year's title was the ninth in a row and 10th in 11 years for Navy.
 
The Navy men's team set the Patriot League record for the most consecutive titles won by a team in a single sport. The Mids and Army's men's outdoor track and field team (1992-07) each won 16-straight titles. Navy has placed first every year it has competed at the meet.
 
Last season, the Navy men's team became the first to surpass 1,000 points in a meet since the league expanded to 10 teams starting with the 2014 championship. This season, the Mids' men replicated that accomplishment, finishing with 1,095.5 points.
 
Individually, Bradley Buchter (Hickory, N.C.) both diving events to become the third diver in Patriot League history to finish his career 8-0 at the Swimming and Diving Championship, joining former Navy diver Kevin Teague (2004-07) and Army's Chelsea Haviland (2003-06).
 
Sydney Harrington (Fairfax, Va.) was named Female Swimmer of the Meet, while Micah Oh (Kent, Ohio) was selected as Male Swimmer of the Meet.
 
Bradley Buchter (Hickory, N.C.) was named Male Diver of the Meet, while Army's Serica Hallstead was the Female Diver of the Meet.
 
Female Rookie of the Meet was Sabrina Vumbacco of Bucknell, while the Male Rookie of the Meet went to Loyola's Max Verheyen.
 
Bucknell's Dan Schinnerer was Women's Swim Coach of the Year, while Loyola's Brian Loeffler took the honor on the men's side. Navy's Rich MacDonald was selected as the Men's and Women's Diving Coach of the Year.
 
"I know I've been saying it all week but I'm just so darn proud of these athletes and how they've competed and battled," said Navy diving coach Rich MacDonald. "We did so many special things over the four days that I can't even begin to point out just one. But for Bradley to go undefeated in the Patriot League is pretty spectacular. Most of us will be moving on to the zone driving championships and hopefully NCAAs so our season is still in full force. We'll take a couple days to let this soak in and celebrate and will be right back to work next week."
 
"First, wanted to thank everyone at the Naval Academy and the Patriot league for putting on such an incredible event," said Navy men's swimming head coach Bill Roberts. "There is so much that goes on to make this meet a success and on behalf of the entire program, we want to extend our heartfelt appreciation for everyone having a role in the meet."
 
"We are extremely proud of our Midshipmen," Roberts added. "They have worked so hard for an extended period of time. It was not easy as there are ups and downs every step of the way. We tip our hats to the determination and commitment of this team as it is an honor to work alongside them to achieve our goals."
 
"It was a great night for Navy swimming and diving," said Navy women's swimming head coach John Morrison. "I am so proud of our men's and women's teams for the amazing finish."
 
"Our lone miler dropped 17 seconds in her final individual event to get the win, which was an inspiring swim to get us started," Morrison commented. "Sweeping the backstroke with Jamie Miller, Ashley Boddiford, and Elly Deas was a good follow up. Martina kept it going in the 100 free with a come-from-behind win. She really showed a lot of heart and racing charisma throughout the weekend. Emily Brockman did an incredible job dropping time from prelims to win the consoles. To close individual competition with a 1-4 finish and new meet record was awesome. The final relay did an incredible job. We are all really proud to realize our hard work has paid off and very excited about the future of our programs."
 
 
Saturday's Finals
1650 Freestyle – Women
1 – Erin Scudder / 16:28.26 (NCAA B cut)
Erin Scudder (Western Springs, Ill.) opened up competition in the final night of the Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championship with a NCAA B cut time of 16:28.26 in the 1,650 freestyle to win the event and start the night on a strong note for the Midshipmen.
 
1650 Freestyle – Men
1st – Luke Johnson / 14:52.11 (13th fastest time in NCAA this season, NCAA B cut, meet record, league record); 2nd – Ryan Waters / 15:10.58 (NCAA B cut)
In the men's 1,650 freestyle, Luke Johnson (Charlotte, N.C.) won in impressive fashion, posting the 13th fastest time in the NCAA this season with a NCAA B cut time of 14:52.11. The time was also a new meet and Patriot League record. He was joined on the podium by teammate Ryan Waters (Basking Ridge, N.J.) who clocked a NCAA B cut time of his own (15:10.58) to finish second overall.
 
200 Backstroke – Women
1st – Jamie Miller / 1:55.22 (NCAA B cut); 2nd – Ashley Boddiford / 1:57.70; 3rd – Elly Deas / 1:59.57; 5th – Madison Milbert / 2:00.24
Jamie Miller (Rochester Hills, Mich.) finished as the top qualifier in the morning preliminaries, clocking a NCAA B cut time of 1:55.23 in the 200 backstroke to advance to the finals.
 
In the finals, Navy won four of the top four spots, sweeping the podium. Miller once again posted a NCAA B cut time, clocking a 1:55.22 in the finals. Ashley Boddiford (Oviedo, Fla.) was second with a time of 1:57.70, while Elly Deas (Johns Creek, Ga.) claimed third with a time of 1:59.57. Madison Milbert (Kingston, Mass.) took fifth place with a time of 2:00.24.
 
200 Backstroke – Men
1st – Dominick Wallace / 1:42.88 (NCAA B cut, meet record, league record, pool record); 2nd – Caleb Mauldin / 1:44.38 (NCAA B cut); 3rd – Billy Cadigan / 1:44.49 (NCAA B cut); 5th – Chris Mayer / 1:47.15; 8th – Mike Jeschke / 1:49.58
In the morning prelims, Dominick Wallace (La Jolla, Calif.) advanced to the finals of the 200 back as the top qualifier with a meet, league, and pool record time of 1:42.78, which was also an NCAA B cut.
 
The finals saw the Midshipmen claim five of the top eight spots, including sweeping the podium with three NCAA B cut times. Wallace followed up his morning swim with a new meet, league, and pool record time of 1:42.88. He was joined on the medal stand by teammates Caleb Mauldin (Chesapeake, Va.) and Billy Cadigan (Lutherville, Md.) who finished second and third with times of 1:44.38 and 1:44.49, respectively. Chris Mayer (Lakeway, Texas) was fifth with a time of 1:47.15, while Mike Jeschke (Augusta, Ga.) was eighth with a time of 1:49.58.
 
100 Freestyle – Women
1st – Martina Thomas / 49:69; 7th – Katie Corbi / 50.65; 8th – Sarah Sorensen / 50.75
Martina Thomas (Fayetteville, Ark.) defended her 100 freestyle championship title with a first place finish in the event on Saturday night. The sophomore clocked a time of 49.69 to win by 13 hundredths of a second. She was joined in the finals by teammates Katie Corbi (Waxhaw, N.C.) and Sarah Sorensen (Gainesville, Fla.) who clocked times of 50.65 and 50.75 to finish seventh and eighth.
 
100 Freestyle – Men
3rd – Daniel Cook / 44.49; 7th – Matthew Fadel / 44.92; 8th – Jack Dunworth / 45.03
In the 100 freestyle, Navy was led by Daniel Cook (Virginia Beach, Va.) who posed a third-place time of 44.49. He was joined in the finals by Matthew Fadel (Columbia, S.C.) and Jack Dunworth (Austin, Texas) who posted times of 44.92 and 45.03 to finish seventh and eighth overall.
 
200 Breaststroke – Women
No finalists
 
200 Breaststroke – Men
2nd – Chris Bondarowicz / 1:56.21 (NCAA B cut); 3rd – Dean Nguyen / 1:57.73 (NCAA B cut); 4th – Derek Nguyen / 1:57.90
Chris Bondarowicz (Scotch Plains, N.J.) posted an NCAA B cut time of 1:57.10 in the 200 breast prelims to advance as the top qualifier.
 
In the finals, Navy posted three NCAA B cut times, finishing in second, third, and fourth in the event. Bondarowicz was Navy's top finisher clocking a time of 1:56.21 to finish second. Dean Nguyen (Seattle, Wash.) was third with a time of 1:57.73, while Derek Nguyen (Woodstock, Md.) was fourth with a cut time of 1:57.90.
 
200 Butterfly – Women
1st – Sydney Harrington / 1:55.24 (NCAA B cut, meet record); 2nd – Delaney Walz / 1:58.81 (NCAA B cut); 3rd – Kelly Huffer / 1:59.48; 4th – Amy Yunginger / 1:59.88
Sydney Harrington (Fairfax, Va.) and Delaney Walz (Mays Landing, N.J.) posted NCAA B cut times of 1:56.39 and 1:58.32, respectively, to finish as the top two qualifiers in the butterfly.
 
Harrington and Walz combined with teammates Kelly Huffer (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Amy Yunginger (Lititz, Pa.) to sweep the top four spots. Harrington set the meet record with a NCAA B cut time of 1:55.24 to win the event. Walz was second with a B cut time of 1:58.81. Huffer and Yunginger took third and fourth with times of 1:59.48 and 1:59.88, respectively
 
200 Butterfly – Men
1st – Micah Oh / 1:44.97 (NCAA B cut); 2nd – Ethan Tack / 1:45.80 (NCAA B cut)
In the morning session, Micah Oh (Kent, Ohio) was the top qualifier in the event, posting an NCAA B cut time of 1:45.41 to move into the finals.
 
Oh was able to shave nearly half a second off of his time to post a NCAA B cut time of 1:44.97 to win the event ahead of teammate Ethan Tack (Dix Hills, N.Y.) who clocked a B cut time of 1:45.80 to finish second in the fly.
 
Men's 3-M Diving
1st – Bradley Buchter / 456.90 (NCAA Zone A, meet record, league record, pool record); 2nd – Jake Hedrick / 379.45 (NCAA Zone A); 4th – Patrick Carter / 339.55 (NCAA Zone A); 5th – Hunter Seibert / 313.20; 6th – Lance Christopher / 291.80
In the preliminaries earlier in the day, Navy's Bradley Buchter (Hickory, N.C.), Jake Hedrick (Hummelstown, Pa.), and Patrick Carter (West Islip, N.Y.) finished 1-2-3 with NCAA Zone A qualifying marks to advance to the finals. Buchter posted a score of 392.45, while Hedrick and Carter notched marks of 361.95 and 344.25, respectively. Teammates Hunter Seibert (Lake Smyrna, Ga.) and Lance Christopher (Lambertville, N.J.) also advanced to the finals.
 
In the finals, Buchter made history becoming the third diver in Patriot League history to go 8-0 at the conference championship. The senior went out on a high note posting a NCAA Zone A mark of 456.90, which was also a meet, league, and pool record. He was joined by Hedrick and Carter with Zone A qualifiers. Hedrick posted a collective score of 379.45 to come in second, while Carter finished with a score of 339.55 to take fourth. Seibert (313.20) finished fifth, while Christopher (291.80) took sixth.
 
400 Freestyle Relay – Women
1st / 3:19.51
The relay team of Ali Kozlina (Cranberry Township, Pa.), Sarah Sorensen (Gainesville, Fla.), Erin Scudder (Western Springs, Ill.), and Martina Thomas (Fayetteville, Ark.) combined to post a winning time of 3:19.51 to end the meet on a high note.
 
400 Freestyle Relay – Men
1st / 2:55.43
Daniel Cook (Virginia Beach, Va.), Matthew Fadel (Columbia, S.C.), Jack Dunworth (Austin, Texas), and Dominick Wallace (La Jolla, Calif.) closed out the final event of the meet with a come-from-behind victory in the 400 freestyle relay. The team continued to fight throughout the entire relay and pulled out the victory to close out the championship with a victory with a time of 2:55.43.
 
 
FINAL SCORES
Women's Team Scores
1. Navy – 927
2. Bucknell – 533
3. Lehigh – 506
4. Army West Point – 471
5. Boston U. – 401
6. Loyola – 302
7. Colgate – 168
8. American – 135
9. Holy Cross – 120
10. Lafayette – 88
 
Men's Team Scores
1. Navy – 1,095.5
2. Army West Point – 721
3. Loyola – 391
4. Bucknell – 342.5
5. Boston U. – 317.5
6. Lehigh – 312.5
7. Lafayette – 151
8. American – 127
9. Holy Cross – 97
10. Colgate – 96
 
Women's Swim Coach of the Year: Dan Schinnerer, Bucknell
Men's Swim Coach of the Year: Brian Loeffler, Loyola
Women's Diving Coach of the Year: Rich MacDonald, Navy
Men's Diving Coach of the Year: Rich MacDonald, Navy
Female Diver of the Meet: Serica Hallstead, Sr., Army West Point
Male Diver of the Meet: Bradley Buchter, Sr., Navy
Female Rookie of the Meet: Sabrina Vumbacco, Fr., Bucknell
Male Rookie of the Meet: Max Verheyen, Fr., Loyola
Female Swimmer of the Meet: Sydney Harrington, So., Navy
Male Swimmer of the Meet: Micah Oh, Jr., Navy