INDIANAPOLIS – The Villanova women and the Georgetown men repeated as BIG EAST Swim and Dive Champions, taking the titles Saturday night at the IUPUI Natatorium of the 2024 BIG EAST Championships Presented by JEEP.
The Wildcat women captured their 11
th consecutive title and 16
th overall with 1,482.5 points, just ahead of runner-up UConn with 1,461.5 points.
The Georgetown men wear the crown for the third straight season, finishing with 859.5 points, ahead of runner-up Xavier with 764.
Individually, Seton Hall’s Silvia Alessio was announced as the BIG EAST Most Outstanding Diver for the women, while Georgetown’s Nick Santiago and Villanova’s Nick Jubilee shared the men’s honor.
Georgetown’s Jack Januario and Providence’s Will Layden split the Most Outstanding Men’s Swimmer award, while Seton Hall’s Allie Waggoner and Villanova’s Audrey Pastorek both were named the Most Outstanding Women’s Swimmers of the Meet.
Jumpstarting the final night of the championship in outstanding form, Seton Hall junior Allie Waggoner won her second gold of the week and 81
st point with a dominating win in the women’s 1,650-yard free. Waggoner swam the mile in an NCAA B-Cut time of 16:18.01. Villanova freshman Marlene Blanke placed second at 16:40.67, while UConn sophomore Norah Rome finished third at 16:44.97.
In the men’s 1,650 free, a pair of Pirates secured NCAA B-Cut times in an impressive heat, with junior Sean Vizzard winning the gold in 15:06.95 and sophomore Clil Halevi finishing in second at 15:10.40. Rounding out the top-three, Georgetown junior Jack Januario placed third with a time of 15:25.90.
Defending her title in the women’s 200 back and capturing her second gold of the week, Villanova senior Audrey Pastorek also earned her third NCAA B-Cut time at 1:55.48. Joining Pastorek on the podium, UConn freshman Bella Hoffman won silver with an NCAA B-Cut time of 1:56.69, while her senior teammate Kayla Mendonca finished third at 1:59.20.
Following the conclusion of the event, the Huskies gained the advantage on the Wildcats in the overall team standings, 1,224.5 to 1183.
On the men’s side, Xavier senior Michael Benington helped pull the Musketeers within 24.5 points of the Georgetown Hoyas in the team standings, with a first-place finish of 1:47.07 in the men’s 200 back. Finishing in second place at 1:47.24 was Villanova junior Aubrey Bowles, while Georgetown junior John McEachern placed third at 1:48.52.
In a finals race that resulted in all eight swimmers finishing within one second of each other. At the top of the podium, Xavier sophomore touched the wall in 50.07 of the 100-yard free, just ahead of her junior teammate Alexis Worrall (50.12). In third, UConn junior Maggie Donley finished at 50.15.
Officially sweeping the freestyle sprinting events, Providence senior Will Layden claimed the gold in the 100-yard at 44.11, just ahead of Georgetown graduate Shaun Kronenwetter (44.52). Rounding out the top-three, Xavier sophomore Kyle Hudson finished at 44.58.
With a pair of NCAA B-Cut times, Georgetown senior Erin Hood won the gold with a time of 2:13.10, just ahead of Xavier sophomore Jordyn Libler at 2:13.54. Finishing in third, and UConn senior Angela Gambardella timed in at 2:15.16.
Winning his second gold medal in the breaststroke this week, Xavier junior Ethan Saunders wrapped up the 200-yards in 1:57.80, ahead of Georgetown sophomore Nick Pezzella (1:58.87). In third, Georgetown junior Ansen Meyer finished in 1:59.72.
In the women’s 200-yard butterfly, Xavier senior Erin Ritz won the gold with an NCAA B-Cut time of 1:57.49, while Villanova sophomore Katie White placed second at 1:59.27. Rounding out the top-three, Xavier freshman Norah Simich touched the wall in 2:00.09.
Following the result of the fly that included four Wildcats competing in the A-Final, Villanova regained the narrow lead in the team standings ahead of the relay, 17 points ahead of UConn, 1428.5 to 1,411.5.
In the men’s 200-Fly, Xavier sophomore Aiden Leamer earned an NCAA B-Cut time of 1:44.81 to earn the gold, while Klimaszewski also earned a B-Cut time to finish in second at 1:45.73. Nolan Danus placed third with a time of 1:46.90.
In a final that came down to two-tenths of a point, Nicolas Jubilee of Villanova earned the gold with 319.40 in the men’s 1-meter dive, just ahead of Nick Santiago of Georgetown with 319.20. Finishing third, Hriday Parekh of Georgetown scored 302.80.
In the final events of the Championships, the Georgetown women captured the gold in the 400 free relay, while Xavier finished first in the men’s race.
Major Awards
Men’s Co-Most Outstanding Swimmer – Jack Januario, Georgetown & Will Layden, Providence
Women’s Co-Most Outstanding Swimmer – Allie Waggoner, Seton Hall & Audrey Pastorek, Villanova
Men’s Co-Most Outstanding Diver – Nick Santiago, Georgetown & Nick Jubilee, Villanova
Women’s Most Outstanding Diver – Silvia Alessio, Seton Hall
Men’s Diving Coach of the Year – Jacob Miner, Georgetown
Women’s Diving Coach of the Year – David McKown, UConn
Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year – Georgetown
Women’s Co-Coaching Staffs of the Year – UConn, Villanova, Xavier
Final Team Standings
Women
- Villanova – 1482.5
- UConn – 1461.5
- Georgetown – 1163
- Xavier – 1086.5
- Seton Hall – 883.5
- Butler – 512
- Providence – 450
Men
- Georgetown – 859.5
- Xavier – 764
- Seton Hall – 578.5
- Villanova – 577
- Providence – 305