“Dynasty” is probably too strong of a word to describe the University of Maryland-Baltimore County?s men?s swimming program. But it?s hard to find any college sports program that has been a more consistent winner than the Retrievers over the last decade.
UMBC is one of the favorites going into the America East Conference championships, to be held Feb. 8-11 in Boston. A first-place finish there would give the Retrievers a conference title in 10 straight seasons. The program won each ECAC championship meet from 1998 to 2003, each Northeast Conference meetfrom 2000 to 03 and the last three America East crowns.
“We?ve been pretty successful overall the last 10 years,” said UMBC swimming coach Chad Craddock, who took over the program in 2001. “Because of what we?ve been able to accomplish, more and more swimmers are looking at us. Success breeds success, and because of the athletes we have now, we are able to be more successful each year.”
The Retrievers wrapped up their dual-meet schedule Saturday at 8-1 following a 158-120 win over Marist. The 26-member team won 14 of 16 events. Senior Ryan Karrer won the 1,000-yard freestyle in 9:35.08. Karrer, a Linewood, N.J., native, also joined sophomore Justin Bronson and seniors Tim Conway and Cliff Schmardel to win the 400 freestyle relay in 3:13.88. Karrer, a two-time conference gold medalist in the 1,650 freestyle, said winning another league title and qualifying for the NCAA championship is his ultimate goal.
“The success here is what brought me here, along with the team,” Karrer said. “The team is made up of a group of guys that want to do well for each other, and that?s really important because that allows you to swim harder because you rely on each other to win instead of just individual efforts.”
On the 23-member women?s team, UMBC has not yet won an overall America East title, but the program has had its fair share of success through the years. Last season, the Retrievers (10-1) placed second in the conference championship and won seven gold medals. The women ended their dual-meet season Saturday with a 161-130 victory over Marist.
“We know the potential is there, and it?s inspiring to see the other half of the team do so well at conferences and watching the men win last year,” sophomore Tina Cantwell said. “That would make us winning mean that much more.”
Talent Pool
» UMBC coach Chad Craddock, a former swimmer at the school, is 48-9 as the men?s coach and47-14 as the women?s coach.
» There are 14 Maryland swimmers ? six men and eight women ? on the Retriever?s roster. Among the local swimmers are sophomore Freddie Reitz (Howard) and junior Meghan Sackett (Dulaney).
