UMBC Women’s Swimming and Diving opened the 2026-27 season with victories over American and VMI on Oct. 3 at the UMBC Aquatic Complex. The Retrievers defeated American 212-81 and VMI 238-59 in a double dual meet.
Freshman Eunice Cheung won all four events she entered in her collegiate debut. She took the 100 butterfly in 57.47 and the 200 butterfly in 2:09.93, while also swimming the third leg on the winning 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams.
Eunice Cheung Leads UMBC Swimming Results
Cheung joined Claudia Fernandez-Deardurff, Lea Kaiser and Ashley Gutshall on the winning 200 medley relay team, which finished in 1:47.43. She later teamed with Gutshall, Claire Oettinger and Erma Duratovic to win the 400 freestyle relay in 3:33.13.
UMBC also produced several individual event sweeps. Breanna Smith, Ella Nadeau, Claire Oettinger and Karli Atwood finished first through fourth in the 200 freestyle, while Lea Kaiser, Ula Parrill, Daphné Melis and Shannyn Lambert placed first through fourth in the 100 breaststroke.
Ashley Gutshall won the 50 freestyle in 23.97 and the 100 freestyle in 52.80. Ula Parrill and Daphné Melis placed first and second in the 200 breaststroke, Kolby Reese won the 500 freestyle in 5:17.90, and Breanna Smith, Ella Nadeau, Shannyn Lambert and Daphné Melis finished first through fourth in the 200 individual medley.
UMBC Sweeps Diving Events
UMBC swept the top three places in both diving events. Katya Peresunko won the 1-meter dive with 255.80 points and the 3-meter dive with 243.00 points.
Claire Butler finished second in both events, while Stella Ranieri placed third in both. The results gave UMBC 1-2-3 finishes in the 1-meter and 3-meter dives.
Upcoming: UMBC at Navy Tri-Meet
UMBC is scheduled to compete at Navy next weekend in a tri-meet with William & Mary following the season-opening victories over American and VMI.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
UMBC started the season strong with two decisive wins and impressive performances in swimming and diving. Cheung won four events in her collegiate debut, while Peresunko, Butler and Ranieri swept the top three spots in both diving events.
Source: Original report
