Massachusetts Swim & Dive Gears Up for the Thrilling Tate Ramsden Invitational!

AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts swimming and diving team is set to participate in the Tate Ramsden Invitational, hosted by Dartmouth College, from Friday, January 17 through Saturday, January 18, in Hanover, New Hampshire. Events will commence at 5 p.m. on Friday and will resume Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m.

Northeastern will also compete alongside UMass and Dartmouth in the invitational.

 

Previous Competition

The Massachusetts women’s swim and dive squad faced Bryant on the road on Saturday, January 4. The Minutewomen were defeated by the Bulldogs, 176.5-123.5, while the Minutemen suffered a loss, 172-125.

 

The women’s team notched five first-place finishes from five competitors, while the men’s team earned six gold medals from four participants.

 

Junior Andrew Bell and freshman Chase Keeler both clinched first in two events on the day.

 

Breaking Into The Top 10

Minutemen:

• 100 Backstroke: Zach Szabo, Freshman (49.38 – 10th)
• 200 Butterfly: Aydin Erkan, Sophomore (1:49.20 – Sixth)
• 200 Breaststroke: Nate Derby, Freshman (2:01.73 – Fifth)

Minutewomen:

• 100 Backstroke: Maria Grishaeva, Freshman (56.11 – Seventh)
• 200 Backstroke: Maria Grishaeva, Freshman (2:02.99 – Ninth)
• 100 Butterfly: Elizabeth Lahmann, Freshman (56.24 – Tied for Seventh)
• 200 Breaststroke: Maria Grishaeva, Freshman (2:19.16 – Fifth)
• 200 Individual Medley: Lindsay Burbage, Sophomore (2:05.74 – Eighth)
• 400 Individual Medley: Maria Grishaeva, Freshman (4:26.59 – Eighth)
• 1-Meter Dive: Shreeya Sinha, Junior (294.68 – Fifth)
• 1-Meter Dive: Salem Howes, Junior (274.13 – 10th)
• 1-Meter Dive: Danielle Guerin, Freshman (279.45 – Ninth)
• 3-Meter Dive: Shreeya Sinha, Junior (304.88 – Sixth)

Setting New [Pool] Records
Junior Sammy Quigg achieved two first-place finishes against Boston College, clocking a time of 20.34 in the 50 freestyle, establishing a new Joseph R. Rogers, Jr., Pool record. His performance surpassed the previous pool record by 0.01 seconds held by a Boston University swimmer from the 2023-24 season (20.35). Quigg’s time also met a new dual meet record for the Minutemen in this event, which he had held with a time of 20.38 last season.
 
At the Justin Jennings Invitational, Bell shattered two pool records at Lineberry Natatorium in both the one-meter and three-meter dives. Bell tallied a score of 355.90 in the one-meter dive and 386.85 in the three-meter dive. Both records surpassed previous ones set in 1987 and 1994.
 
The [Top] Dives
At Boston University earlier this season, the divers collectively achieved six personal bests that day, with four from the Minutewomen and two from the Minutemen.
 
For the Minutewomen, junior Shreeya Sinha garnered two personal bests, taking the gold in the three-meter dive with a total of 304.88. In the one-meter, she secured second place with a total of 294.68 after six dives. Her three-meter score places her sixth all-time in the UMass record books, while her one-meter total ranks fifth all-time in the record books. Fellow classmate Salem Howes finished third in the one-meter event, achieving a personal-best score of 274.13, marking her name in the 10th all-time in the record books.
 
Additionally, freshman Sahana Narayanan completed the three-meter event in third place with a personal-best score of 256.28.
 
Bell took first place in both the three-meter and one-meter events for the Minutemen. In the three-meter event, Bell recorded a season-best score of 429.23, while culminating a season-best six-dive total of 399.60 in the one-meter dive. Freshman Alex Kreidler achieved personal-best scores, securing second place in both the three-meter (291.90) and one-meter (314.10) dives.
 
Weekly Accolades
Quigg received the first Atlantic 10 weekly recognition, being honored as the A-10 men’s Performer of the Week on October 9. This marked his third weekly accolade in his career. Quigg established a pool record in the Minutemen’s initial meet of the season against Boston College, swimming a new record time of 20.34 at the Joseph R. Rogers, Jr., Pool in the 50 freestyle to earn the gold medal, followed by a first-place finish in the 100 freestyle with a time of 45.24.
 
During the relay events, the junior led the 200 medley relay team to a first-place finish with a combined time of 1:33.34. Quigg also anchored the 200 freestyle relay team to a silver finish with a time of 1:24.51.
 
Bell received the A-10 men’s Performer of the Week honor three times this season, achieving his fifth, sixth, and seventh career honors. Earning the accolade on October 15, the junior contributed to the Minutemen’s second-place result at the Justin Jennings Invitational, hosted by Colgate, over the weekend after claiming two gold medals. Bell finished first in the three-meter dive with a six-dive total, and season-best, of 386.85, while also winning the one-meter dive event with a score of 355.90. Both of his scores set new pool records previously established in 1987 and 1994.
 
He earned the award on October 22, after dominating the podium in both the one-meter and three-meter diving events in UMass’ scrimmage against Yale. In the one-meter, he scored 371.93, while achieving a total of 393.98 in the three-meter event.
 
On November 12, Bell clinched his third award of the year after winning both the three-meter and one-meter dives in a dual meet at Boston University. In the three-meter event, he reached a season-best score of 429.23, while notching a season-best six-dive total of 399.60 in the one-meter dive.
 
Bell once more captured the A-10 Performer of the Week on January 15, as he secured first place in both the one-meter (360.08) and three-meter (384.75) dives as the Minutemen faced Bryant. He also took part in the USA Diving Winter Nationals in December. In the one-meter preliminary round, Bell ranked 11th with a six-dive total of 306.70. He accumulated a 295.45 in the three-meter preliminary round, placing him in 21st.
 
Freshman Chase Keeler achieved his initial career weekly recognition after being named the A-10 Men’s Rookie of the Week on November 26. Keeler finished sixth in the 200 individual medley with a season-best time of 1:51.21. The freshman swam to 11th with a personal-best time of 4:01.29 in the 400 individual medley, while securing fifth in the 200 backstroke with a personal-best time of 1:49.11. He also entered the top 10 in the A-10 Conference in the 200 individual medley, 400 individual medley, and the 200 backstroke.
 
During the relay competitions, Keeler took the lead in the 400 medley relay team that finished seventh with a time of 3:21.55. He also assisted his 200 medley relay team to a 10th place finish with a time of 1:32.35.
 
Upcoming Events
Massachusetts swim and dive will journey to Fairfield, Connecticut, to compete against Fairfield in a dual meet on Saturday, January 25, at 1 p.m.