WINTHROP, Mass. – The Regis College swimming and diving squads will be in contention for individual titles as well as team championships, as the 2019 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships will take place this weekend, Feb. 1-3, at the Holmes Sports Center Natatorium on the campus of Simmons University.
Both Pride squads finished second in the annual coaches' championship poll, with all eight coaches picking the Regis women behind Simmons, seeking its 15th consecutive GNAC title. On the men's side, Regis received two first-place votes to finish with 44 points overall, just behind Norwich at five first-place votes and 47 points as the Cadets are looking for their ninth consecutive GNAC crown.
Regis is represented by the top ranked swimmer entering the championship meet in six events. Leading the men is senior captain Joshua Unas (Santa Clarita, Calif.), the defending GNAC champion in the 200 individual medley. This year, Unas enters the meet with the league's fastest time in the 100 breaststroke as well as the second quickest mark in the 50 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke.
GianCarlos Banrey (Roslindale, Mass.) has enjoyed a stellar freshman campaign, receiving GNAC Rookie of the Week honors four times this year. He will enter this weekend's championships with the top time in both the 50 butterfly and 100 butterfly, plus he looks to contend in the 100 freestyle where he has the fifth-fastest time among those scheduled to compete.
Grant Kollien (Acton, Mass.) brings the top time in the league in the 1000 freestyle into the meet as well as the second-fastest time in the 500 freestyle. Other Pride swimmers to watch include Brendan Pike (Weymouth, Mass.), ranked second in the 400 individual medley and sixth in the 200 freestyle, and Kevin Dugue (Roslindale, Mass.), entering the meet among the top five entries in all three backstroke events.
For the women, Elisabeth McQuaid (Marlborough, Mass.) is the two-time defending champion in the one-meter diving event and goes into the weekend with the top score from the regular season. Sarah Leonard (Brockton, Mass.), one of this year's captains, posted the fastest time in the league in the 50 backstroke so far this year and will be looking for her third straight GNAC title in that event.
The women have won the 200 freestyle relay in each of the past two seasons, with Leonard and Jessica Zernitsky (Newton, Mass.) part of both victorious squads. Zernitsky will also challenge for individual titles, as she is second on the psych list for the 50 butterfly and fourth for the 50 freestyle.
Regis's newcomers are in position to play a significant role in the team's success. Kyleigh Boatwright (Roseville, Calif.) is second on the psych list in the 200 backstroke and sixth in the 100 freestyle, while Alexa Lancisi (Milford, Mass.) is fourth in both the 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly. Julia Burke (North Andover, Mass.) enters the weekend as one of the top competitors in the 50 breaststroke and 100 breaststroke, and Thalia Bowie (Lexington, Mass.) is fourth among entered swimmers in the 400 individual medley as well as seventh in the 500 freestyle.
The 2019 GNAC Swimming and Diving Championships are scheduled to begin Friday, Feb. 1, at 6:30 p.m. with the 200 freestyle relay, 1000 freestyle, and 200 medley relay. The meet continues Saturday, Feb. 2, with preliminaries at 10:30 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m., featuring eight swimming events and the one-meter diving session.
The championship competition will conclude Sunday, Feb. 3, with preliminaries at 9:30 a.m. and finals at 4 p.m., including nine swimming events and the three-meter diving session. The meet will be streamed on www.thegnac.tv.