George Washington University Athletics
Colonials of the Week: Swimming & Diving
2/21/2022 10:38:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
Buff & Blue swept the A-10 titles on Saturday
In a sure sign of the program's continued progress, GW swimming and diving swept the Atlantic 10 Championship titles last week, culminating in a historic post-meet celebration on Saturday night at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
Over four days of competition, the Buff and Blue left no doubt, scoring comfortable victories in both team races to become the first program to earn a title sweep since Massachusetts in 2001.
The men, led by A-10 Most Outstanding Performer Marek Osina, collected 28 medals, with half of them golds including first-place finishes in all five relays, and set five program records on the way to their second straight title and fifth in six years, while the women showcased their top-to-bottom depth to win their second conference crown in three seasons, totaling 17 medal-winning swims and six program records.
In recognition of that dominance, Head Coach Brian Thomas swept the Coach of the Year awards, becoming the first double winner since West Virginia's Kevin Gilson in 1994.
Durde Matic also won seven golds while breaking conference marks in the 50 free (:19.56) and 200 fly (1:46.66) and setting a meet mark in the 100 fly (:45.79).
Connor Rodgers was named A-10 Most Outstanding Rookie Performer after winning the 500 free (4:24.11) and taking bronze in the 200 fly (1:46.72).
For the women, all 20 scorers added to the team total, and the group reached the medal podium in all five relays.
Erin McCarthy led the way with gold-medal efforts in the 500 free (4:48.47) and 1,650 free (16:33.25), while newcomer Barbara Schaal set a program record en route to silver in the 200 back (1:56.54) and secured seven medals in all.
Julia Knox set program records in the 200 IM (1:59.20) and 400 IM (4:15.38) in her debut at the championship meet, and Marlee Rickert (100 back, :53.58) and Stine Omdahl Petersen (200 breast, 2:12.90) also set individual program records while claiming medals.
It was a strong week for the divers as well with Spencer Bystrom earning a pair of medals and Jamie Doak, Caitlin Inall and Dara Reyblat combining to add 73 points to the women's team total during an unforgettable week for everyone involved.
Over four days of competition, the Buff and Blue left no doubt, scoring comfortable victories in both team races to become the first program to earn a title sweep since Massachusetts in 2001.
The men, led by A-10 Most Outstanding Performer Marek Osina, collected 28 medals, with half of them golds including first-place finishes in all five relays, and set five program records on the way to their second straight title and fifth in six years, while the women showcased their top-to-bottom depth to win their second conference crown in three seasons, totaling 17 medal-winning swims and six program records.
In recognition of that dominance, Head Coach Brian Thomas swept the Coach of the Year awards, becoming the first double winner since West Virginia's Kevin Gilson in 1994.
Osina was terrific throughout the week, winning seven gold medals. The senior from Kromeriz, Czech Republic broke his own A-10 record in the 200 IM (1:44.72) and also captured the 400 IM (3:46.40) and 200 back (1:42.22) in personal-best times."In 17 years of coaching, I've never seen anything quite like it."
— GW Swimming & Diving (@GWSwimDive) February 20, 2022
Hear from @GWCoachBThom on what it took for our group to earn a sweep of the A-10 titles.#RaiseHigh pic.twitter.com/GQ9MuNmmh4
Durde Matic also won seven golds while breaking conference marks in the 50 free (:19.56) and 200 fly (1:46.66) and setting a meet mark in the 100 fly (:45.79).
Connor Rodgers was named A-10 Most Outstanding Rookie Performer after winning the 500 free (4:24.11) and taking bronze in the 200 fly (1:46.72).
For the women, all 20 scorers added to the team total, and the group reached the medal podium in all five relays.
Erin McCarthy led the way with gold-medal efforts in the 500 free (4:48.47) and 1,650 free (16:33.25), while newcomer Barbara Schaal set a program record en route to silver in the 200 back (1:56.54) and secured seven medals in all.
Julia Knox set program records in the 200 IM (1:59.20) and 400 IM (4:15.38) in her debut at the championship meet, and Marlee Rickert (100 back, :53.58) and Stine Omdahl Petersen (200 breast, 2:12.90) also set individual program records while claiming medals.
It was a strong week for the divers as well with Spencer Bystrom earning a pair of medals and Jamie Doak, Caitlin Inall and Dara Reyblat combining to add 73 points to the women's team total during an unforgettable week for everyone involved.
Hear from A-10 Most Outstanding Performer Marek Osina and quintuple medalist Marlee Rickert after four great days in Ohio finished with an epic title celebration.#RaiseHigh pic.twitter.com/ysAsAHV2I4
— GW Swimming & Diving (@GWSwimDive) February 20, 2022
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
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