UMBC

Justin Bronson leads six Retrievers in the 500-free finals.

Boston-Six UMBC swimmers placed in the top eight in the men’s 500-yard freestyle and will compete in Friday evening’s finals session on the second day of action at the 2007 America East Swimming and Diving Championships at Boston University’s Aquatic Center. In all, 15 Retriever men and 10 UMBC women will swim in three individual events tonight.

Sophomore Justin Bronson, the 500-free champion a year ago as he set a new meet record, took the top seed in the event with a season-best time of 4:30.44. The Retrievers also took the fourth-through-eighth seeds – senior Ryan Karrer (4:35.21), senior Cliff Schmardel (4:38.47), sophomore Evan Roseberry (4:39.35), sophomore Freddie Reitz (4:39.40) and junior Joey Sementelli (4:43.00). Both Schmardel and Sementelli recorded career-best times. Reitz, Roseberry, Karrer and Sementelli joined Bronson as part of UMBC’s unprecedented seven finalists in 2006, and Reitz, the 2006 silver medalist and Retriever record holder, entered the weekend with the conference’s top time of the season.

Freshman Matt Mattingly took the top seed in the 200-IM with a season-best 1:54.16. Juniors Adam Eiben (1:56.38) and Scott Auchter (1:56.38) and senior Juan Ortiz (1:56.57) placed fifth through seventh in the prelims. Eiben and Auchter both recorded career-best times, as well. In addition, junior Eric Skrabacz (1:57.57) placed 10th and will compete in the evening’s consolations heat.

Finally, senior Tim Conway (21.39) and freshman Rasmus Kutt (21.43) took the fourth and seventh seeds, respectively, in the 50-free. Conway was the 2006 silver medalist in the event. Sophomore Milos Djukic (21.86) and freshman Zach Vonder Haar (21.87) placed 13th and 14th, respectively, and will compete in the consolations heat.

On the women’s side, junior Meghan Sackett, the 2006 conference champion in the 500-free, again took the top seed in the event with her time of 5:00.24 and is the only finalist. However, juniors Rachel Lesslie (5:10.95) and Erin Mathews (5:14.36) placed 10th and 13th, respectively, and will swim in the consolations heat. Mathews’ time is a career best.

Sophomore Daniele Surkovich, the 2006 50-free gold medalist, took the top seed in the event with her time of 23.80. The school 50-free record holder, Surkovich will be joined in the finals by junior Lindsey Engler, who placed fifth in the prelims (24.26). In addition, junior Carly Fitzpatrick placed 10th with a career-best 25.12 and will swim in the consolations heat.

Finally, senior Agnes Stanislawska took the second seed in the 200-IM. The school record holder in the event, Stanislawska will be joined in the finals by freshman Tereza Kaplanova (2:08.45) and sophomore Tina Cantwell (2:08.81), who placed fifth and sixth, respectively. Kaplanova’s time is a season best. Sophomore Joy Wilde finished 10th (2:11.70) and will compete in the consolations.

In addition to the finals of the 500-free, 200-IM and 50-free, Friday evening’s session will also include the women’s 3-meter diving competition, as well as the 200-freestyle relay. The session begins at 6 p.m.

The three-time defending America East champion Retriever men currently hold a two-point lead with 100 points to Stony Brook’s 98. Maine is close behind with 94 points. The UMBC women also have a two-point lead with 74 points to reigning league champion New Hampshire’s 72.

On Thursday, the Retrievers broke four school records and two conference marks, as both 800-free relay teams won gold medals.