Championship Central  | Complete Results | Video Highlights | Individual Event Winners

GENEVA, Ohio  – The Villanova women won their eighth consecutive championship title and the Xavier men won their third as the 2021 BIG EAST Swimming & Diving Championships Presented by JEEP concluded at the Spire Institute on Saturday night. Villanova won by 68.5 points as the Wildcats defeated second-place UConn, 906.5 to 838. Xavier handily won the men’s competition with a point total of 862.5.
 
The Wildcat women won four events on the final night of competition as Kelly Montesi, who was voted the Most Outstanding Women’s Swimmer, won one individual, the 200 fly (1:58.94) and helped the Wildcats win the final 400 free relay. Montesi was the first off the block. For the championship, Montesi won three individual titles and four relay titles. Villanova won four of the five relays for the meet.
 
Also earning gold for Villanova on Saturday was Audrey Pastorek in the 200-yard backstroke (1:59.24) and Millicent Routledge in the 100-yard freestyle. Routledge won two individual titles in the championship and swam on three title-winning relays.
 
UConn won three competitions on Saturday. Freshman Niamh Hofland won her second title of the competition with a win in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 16:27.97. Husky teammate Angela Gambardella won gold in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:14.49. UConn’s Elizabeth Drab won the 3-meter diving title with a score of 522.25. Drab was also voted the Most Outstanding Women’s Diver as she also finished runner-up in the 1-meter competition.
 
Villanova coach Rick Simpson and his staff was voted the Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
The Xavier men won three individual titles and the 400-yard free relay on Saturday as Andrew Martin was named the Most Outstanding Men’s Swimmer. Martin defended his title in the 1,650-yard freestyle (15:26.91) and also swam the anchor swim of the relay which won with a time of 2:57.96. Martin finished the championship with three individual event wins and three relay wins. Relay teammate Alexander Sironen won the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:47.17. Leadoff swimmer in the relay Christian Thomas won his second individual title on Saturday with a win in the 100-yard freestyle (44.38).
 
Villanova freshman Nolan Richard won his second event title of the meet with a victory in the 200-yard breaststroke. Richard hit the wall first at 2:00.26.
 
Providence swimmer Justin Viotto won the Friars' second gold of the championship with a time of 1:48.23 in the 200 fly.
 
The Villanova women finished with 11 event wins. The Xavier men recorded the same amount.

 

Major Awards
Most Outstanding Women's Swimmer: Kelly Montesi, Villanova
Most Outstanding Men's Swimmer: Andrew Martin, Xavier
Women's Coaching Staff of the Year: Rick Simpson and Villanova
Men's Coaching Staff of the Year: John O’Neill and Providence
Most Outstanding Women's Diver: Elizabeth Drab, UConn
Most Outstanding Men's Diver: Michael Ackert, Villanova
Women's Diving Coach of the Year: Joshua Arndt, UConn
Men's Diving Coach of the Year: Todd Michael, Villanova
 
Final Women’s Team Scores
1. Villanova – 906.5 points
2. UConn --  838
3. Xavier – 535
4. Seton Hall – 505.5
5. Providence – 214
6. Butler – 202
 
Final Men’s Team Scores
1. Xavier – 862.5 points
2. Villanova – 685.5
3. Seton Hall – 645
4. Providence – 461.5
5. UConn – 93.5