University of Maine swimmers end season at ECAC championship

The UMaine men’s team along with three members of the women’s team competed this weekend at the ECAC championship hosted by the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Day 1

Maine’s ‘A’ relay of John McLeod, David Vittori, Matt England, and Sergey Terrio placed 7th in the 200 freestyle relay at 1:25.19. Due to a timing issue splits were not recorded.

Vittori went a season best time in the 500 freestyle in the prelims with a 4:40.86 placing 22nd. Junior Ryan Fahey placed 26th at 4:45.62 and Senior Brent Williams placed 28th at 4:57.30.

The men’s 200 IM saw the first record fall with freshman John Carlucci lowering Nathan Richard’s mark of 1:55.02 from 2007 to 1:54.17 in the prelims. Carlucci placed 19th.

Senior and Orono native Lauren Dwyer was the first black bear to place in the championship final. Dwyer placed 7th in the 50 free with a 24.13.

Freshman diver Ethan Eckoff placed 6th in the 3 meter board with a score of 221.95 points.

The men’s 400 medley relay saw two records fall in finals. Sophomore Matt England lowered his own record in the 100 backstroke by leading off the relay with a 50.12. Caleb Hoffman, Sergey Terrio, and John Carlucci finished the relay to best the previous record set in 2013 by almost three seconds at 3:26.33.

Day 2

The first relay of day two began with more record breaking swims. Maine won the consolation final (and would have placed 5th overall) in a new school record time of 1:32.48. England lead off the relay with a 22.85 in the backstroke with Hoffman’s breaststroke splitting a roaring 25.90. Carlucci held the speed with a 22.58 split in the butterfly and Vittori completed the school record relay with a 21.15 in the freestyle.

Carlucci (Danbury, Conn.) set another school record placing 10th in the finals of the 400 IM. His time of 4:00.47 lowered teammate Ryan Fahey’s record of 4:04.02 from 2012. Fahey placed 16th at 4:09.51.

Sophomore Cam Dwyer placed 25th with a 52.19 while teammates Sergey Terrio (52.37) and John McLeod (54.30) placed 27th and 34th respectively.

Senior Erica Smrcina returned to the night session and placed 14th with a 56.44 in the 100 butterfly.

Lauren Dwyer made another consolation finals heat in the 200 freestyle. Dwyer placed 10th with a 1:53.06.

Junior David Vittori continued performing well with a 14th place finish in the 200 freestyle and best time of 1:42.66.

Senior Caleb Hoffman earned Maine another spot in consolation finals when he placed 14th in the 100 breaststroke. Hoffman finished in a best time of 58.45.

In the men’s 100 backstroke sophomore Matt England returned to the championship final at night as the 6th seed. England set a new school record in the event breaking the 50 second barrier with a 49.66 earning him the silver medal. Teammate freshman Keith Chandler placed 17th at 53.89.

The men’s 800 freestyle relay composed of Cam Dwyer, John Carlucci, Ryan Fahey, and David Vittori placed 8th at 6:58.77.

Day 3

Starting off the final session of the meet was the men’s 1650. David Vittori placed  19th in the event with a 16:24.67. Vittori narrowly missed the school record in the 1000 touching at 9:40.93 at the 1000 yard mark. Seniors Cody Lachance and Brent Williams completed their college swimming careers placing 21st and 24th respectively. Williams was named captain his junior and senior years and Lachance his senior year.

In the women’s 200 backstroke Captain Lauren Dwyer placed 12th with a 2:08.10 to cap off her long and fruitful swimming career. Dwyer holds relay records in the 200 free, 400 free, 400 medley, and 800 free.

Matt England returned for another school record in the 200 backstroke placing 11th with a 1:50.47 besting Derek Marshall’s record from 1992 of 1:52.24. Teammate Keith Chandler placed 25th with a time of 2:00.49.

Senior Caleb Hoffman returned again to consolation finals tying for 13th with a 2:07.71. Hoffman ended his career, but remains on the board with two records in the 200 and 400 medley relays.

In the women’s 200 butterfly sophomore Taylor Sharp placed 8th in the championship final heat with a time of 2:06.82. Senior Erica Smrcina placed 9th with a 2:06.51. Smircina ended her swimming career with records in the 100 butterfly, 200 medley relay, and 400 medley relay.

The men’s 200 butterfly saw freshman John Carlucci break his third individual record. Carlucci placed 10th with a time of 1:52.20 breaking teammate Sergey Terrio’s record from 2013 of 1:53.01. Terrio placed 12th at 1:53.28 while Cam Dwyer placed 20th at 1:55.76.

In the 1 meter diving final freshman Ethan Eckhoff again placed 6th with a score of 225.00.

The final event of the meet was the men’s 400 freestyle relay. Sophomore Matt England led off the relay at 46.89. Junior David Vittori left second splitting 47.16 followed by John McLeod at 47.97 and John Carlucci at 46.81. Maine placed 6th in the event at 3:08.83.

Overall the Maine men placed 7th at ECACs with 192.5 points.

Congratulations to all the Maine swimmers through the season and especially to all the seniors who have now ended their swimming careers.

Matthew England

About Matthew England

Matt is a former Bangor High School swimmer and currently swims for coach Susan Lizzotte at the University of Maine. He holds team records for the Bangor Hurricanes, Bangor High, and the University of Maine. He is an exercise science major for the class of 2016.