The UMBC swimming and diving teams completed the CCSA North Invitational with wins over NJIT, VMI and Gardner-Webb on Sunday. In the process, head coach Chad Cradock recorded his 200th career win. Cradock also becomes the winningest coach in program history, surpassing Sid Burkot.
“It is a pleasure for a milestone like this to occur at home,” Cradock said about winning number 200. “I want to thank all the coaches who have been a part of this over the years, including Chris Gibeau who has been here with me for most of it,” he added. “I am proud to work with talented athletes both in the past and the present for their spirit of hard work and upholding UMBC tradition.”
On the men’s side, UMBC picked up a relay win, winning the 400 Free Relay. The team of Lauri Kaei, Rob Breen, Jonas Gutzat, and Gregor Sporlein took first in a time of 3:06.72.
Sporlein led the men, winning two events on the day. Gregor took gold in the 50 and 200 Free. He won the 50 free in a time of 21.33, and the 200 free in a time of 1:41.18. Gutzat, Leo Endres, Andrew McKissick and Philip Adejumo were the other winners for the Retrievers. Gutzat took home first in the 1000 free in a time of 9:44.69. Endres was a winner in the 200 breast with a time of 2:06.78, while McKissick won the 400 IM with a time of 4:10.57. Adejumo rounded out the scorers with a win in the 100 fly (52.42).
Ryan Green won the 3 meter dive with a score of 332.33 to complete his sweep of the diving events. Green along with Pak Lam Wong have qualified for NCAA Zones after this weekend.
The women were led once again by Emily Escobedo and Allie Caulfield. Escobedo won the 200 breast (2:18.57) and the 400 IM (4:30.20), while Caulfield was a winner in the 50 free (24.99) and the 200 free (1:55.31). Brenda Rhodes and Catherine Frediani also picked up individual wins on the day. Rhodes was a winner in the 1000 free, with a time of 10:30.97, and Frediani won the 100 back in 1:00.46.
Coco Darelius continued her strong weekend, winning the 1 meter dive with a score of 274.80. Coco has also qualified for the NCAA Zone competition in the spring, making her the third Retriever to do so this year.
“I am proud of the way our team performed this weekend after having competed in four out of eight days,” Cradock said on Sunday. “This meet had a championship meet feel to it, and I thank Gardner-Webb, NJIT and VMI for coming out to make it feel that way.”
The Retrievers are back in action on Saturday, October 25. UMBC will head to George Washington to battle with the Colonials. The meet is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.
College Swimming News courtesy of UMBC swimming and diving.
Congratulations, Chad! Well deserved for a great coach and an awesome person all around.
Congratulations on this great milestone Chad! On to the next 100 now!