HAMPTON, Va. – The Roger Williams University Men’s and Women’s Swimming teams begin their pursuit of a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) championship this Thursday, , at the NJAC Swimming and Diving Championships. The four-day event, culminating on , promises intense competition and will be streamed via pay-per-view, offering comprehensive coverage of both preliminary and final sessions in both the main and diving pools.
The Roger Williams men’s team enters the championship looking to improve upon their fifth-place finish from last season, a result they’ve replicated in back-to-back years. The women’s team aims to climb the standings after placing seventh last year and eighth the year prior. Both teams will be looking to make their mark in a conference known for its competitive swimming and diving programs.
The opening day of competition, Thursday, will kick off at with the men’s 3-meter diving preliminaries. The evening session will feature the highly anticipated 200-yard medley relay and 800-yard freestyle relay finals for both men and women. Roger Williams is currently ranked within the top ten in both relay events, holding the sixth and seventh positions respectively, signaling a strong start to the championship.
Friday’s schedule begins at with preliminary races in the 50-yard and 500-yard freestyles, as well as the 200-yard individual medley. The morning session will conclude with the 400-yard medley relay. The afternoon will then showcase the finals for all events contested earlier in the day.
James Augustin of Roger Williams is seeded eighth in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of seconds, poised to contend for a spot in the finals. On the women’s side, Avery Benigni leads the charge with a time of seconds, also earning a strong seed. Both the men’s and women’s 400-yard medley relay teams are currently ranked seventh, indicating potential for a competitive showing.
Saturday’s events will include preliminary races in the 400-yard individual medley, 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard breaststroke, and 100-yard backstroke, followed by finals in the afternoon. The 200-yard freestyle relay finals will also take place on Saturday evening. Both the men’s and women’s 200-yard freestyle relay teams are ranked seventh, setting the stage for a thrilling race.
Mattia McIntyre is expected to be a key performer for the women’s team in the 100-yard breaststroke. The Hawks will be looking for strong performances across the board as they navigate a challenging schedule.
The championship will draw to a close on Sunday with races in the 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard breaststroke, 200-yard butterfly, 400-yard freestyle relay, and the grueling 1650-yard freestyle. Augustin is again a top contender for the Hawks, ranked ninth in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of seconds.
Luke Austin and Milo Stefanowicz are also expected to contribute significantly in the breaststroke events, holding tenth and twelfth positions respectively with times of and seconds in the 200-yard breaststroke. Claire Dombrofski will lead the women in the 100-yard freestyle, while McIntyre will be the top performer in the 200-yard breaststroke. Shae Gonzales is anticipated to excel in the 200-yard backstroke.
The NJAC Swimming and Diving Championships represent a culmination of the season’s hard work and dedication for the Roger Williams University swim teams. With a mix of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers, the Hawks are poised to deliver strong performances and compete for a place among the conference’s elite. Team updates will be provided throughout the weekend as the competition unfolds.
