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Friday, January 16, 2026
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Cechini & Loyola Cruise to dominant victory over Bucknell
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Loyola University Maryland’s men’s swimming and diving team delivered a clinical performance on Friday to secure a decisive 172-128 dual-meet victory over Bucknell.
The Greyhounds utilized their superior depth to take control of the contest at the Mangione Pool, with Thomas Cechini among those playing a vital role in securing points across a demanding schedule of events.
Freshman Thomas Cechini continues to prove a valuable asset to the Greyhounds’ distance unit. In a grueling Men’s 1000 Yard Freestyle, Cechini battled through a competitive field to touch the wall in 9:40.73.
His fifth-place finish added crucial points to the Loyola tally in an event where teammate Chase Garcia led the home charge, finishing second in 9:32.14. The race was won by Bucknell’s William Shoemaker, but the Greyhounds’ pack-style scoring ensured they maintained their early momentum in the team standings.
The Greyhounds’ strength in numbers was perhaps most evident in the final event of the afternoon, the Men’s 400 Yard Freestyle Relay. While Loyola’s 'A' team claimed the overall victory to put the result beyond doubt, the 'B' squad produced a standout performance to underline the program's depth.
Cechini returned to the water to help pilot the Loyola 'B' relay to a third-place finish. The quartet clocked a time of 3:05.04, successfully fending off Bucknell’s secondary units to ensure a significant points haul for the hosts.
The victory was built on a series of dominant displays throughout the afternoon. Loyola set the tone from the opening event, claiming the 200 Yard Medley Relay, and rarely looked back.
Joe Hayburn was a standout performer for the home side, securing a hat-trick of individual wins in the 100 Backstroke, 200 Backstroke, and 100 Butterfly. Brennan Coyle also impressed, claiming the 100 Breaststroke and contributing to the winning relay efforts.
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Thursday, January 15, 2026
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Insley Shows Versatility as Canisius battle Metro Atlantic Rivals
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Bermudian sophomore Rhys Insley produced a series of consistent displays as the Canisius University men’s swimming and diving team faced a formidable test against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) rivals Rider this weekend.
Competing at the Burt Flickinger Center in downtown Buffalo, the Golden Griffins found the going tough against a clinical Broncs squad, ultimately falling 204–90. Despite the scoreline, Insley was a fixture in the breaststroke and individual medley events, providing vital points for the hosts.
Insley opened his individual account in the Men’s 100 Yard Breaststroke, where he secured a fifth-place finish. Touching the wall in 1:01.42, he was part of a competitive heat that saw Rider’s Maxwell Connelly claim the top spot.
The Smiths Parish native showed his endurance later in the session during the 200 Yard Breaststroke. In a display of tactical pacing, Insley moved up the field to finish fourth overall with a time of 2:16.97.
Insley’s day began in the relay lanes, where he swam the second leg for the Canisius 200 Yard Medley Relay C team. The quartet clocked a combined 1:39.71 to take fifth place, providing the Griffs with depth in the opening event.
He capped off his busy schedule in the 200 Yard Individual Medley, testing his versatility across all four strokes. Insley touched the wall in 2:07.95 to secure another fifth-place finish for his side.
The meet serves as a key benchmark for Canisius as they move toward the heart of the conference season, with the MAAC Championships on the horizon next month.
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Wednesday, January 14, 2026
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White Shines as Bentley Record Dominant Tri-Meet Victories
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Bermudian standout Taylor White continued her impressive senior campaign as the Bentley University women’s swimming and diving team secured a 2-1 record in a high-intensity Tri-Meet at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).
Bentley delivered two commanding dual-meet wins, overpowering Adelphi University 200-87 and comfortably defeating Felician University 171-106. However, the hosts WPI proved a tougher challenge, with Bentley falling 158-121 to the Engineers.
White was once again the spearhead for the Bentley distance unit. She claimed a clinical victory in the Women's 1000 Yard Freestyle, stopping the clock at 10:50.27 to secure maximum points.
White nearly made it a double on the day, finishing a close second in the Women's 200 Yard Backstroke. Her time of 2:11.55 was enough to secure the runner-up spot in a competitive field.
The afternoon was capped off by a collaborative triumph in the Women’s 400 Yard Freestyle Relay. Swimming the leadoff leg, White provided the Falcons with a strong start, allowing the quartet to post a winning time of 3:45.82.
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Monday, January 12, 2026
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Bermudian Swimmers Sparkle at 2026 Baylor Invitational
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Bermudian swimmers delivered a series of standout performances at the 2026 Baylor High School Invitational, playing an integral role in Baylor’s strong overall showing against a highly competitive field. Several athletes recorded personal best times as they underscored Bermuda’s continued influence and presence in high-level scholastic swimming.
In the girls’ events, Maggie Mewett impressed in the sprint freestyle races, finishing third in the 50-yard freestyle and seventh in the 100-yard freestyle with personal best efforts. She also contributed to Baylor’s relay success, swimming on the third-place 200-yard freestyle relay B team and the fourth-place 400-yard freestyle relay C team.
Violet Smith showcased her versatility, earning third place in the 100-yard backstroke touching the wall in a Personal Best tie of 58.95. She added a fourth-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley, producing another personal best time of 2:19.03.
Katherine Wheddon delivered a pair of podium finishes, securing second place in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:19.19 and third in the 200-yard freestyle clocking 1:56.29. Wheddon also played a key role on Baylor’s second-place 400-yard freestyle relay team who were clocked at 3:42.89.
On the boys’ side, Connor Hupman was part of two first-place relay teams, helping Baylor win both the 200-yard medley relay A clocking 1:30.21 and the 200-yard freestyle relay A stopping the clock in 1:25.52. He also placed third in the 200-yard freestyle clocking 1:42.44 and finished fourth in the 100-yard backstroke with a personal best time of 52.94.
Noah Maranzana recorded strong freestyle performances, finishing second in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 49.22 and third in the 50-yard freestyle with a personal best time of 22.11. He also contributed to a first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay A clocking a time of 1:25.52 and a second-place result in the 400-yard freestyle relay B clocking 3:19.65.
Rounding out the Bermudian contingent, Gabriel Maranzana produced consistent results throughout the meet, including personal best swims. He helped the 200-yard medley relay B team place second with a time of 1:38.83, finished third in the 100-yard freestyle, and took sixth in the 200-yard freestyle touching the wall in 1:56.71. He was also part of the third-place 200-yard freestyle relay team that was clocked at 1:31.75.
Collectively, the Bermudian athletes’ performances were instrumental in Baylor’s success at the invitational.
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Sunday, January 11, 2026
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Martlets Make Waves with Signing of Record-Breaker Howes
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The McGill University women’s swimming and diving program has secured a significant talent for their 2026 entry class, announcing the signing of Bermudian standout Marleigh Howes.
Howes will arrive in Montreal with a reputation as one of the most clinical sprinters in the Caribbean region. In an official welcome on social media, the McGill coaching staff expressed their excitement for the new recruit, stating: "Marleigh is a sprint butterfly and freestyle specialist who will join the team all the way from Warwick, Bermuda! Looking forward to having you as a new Martlet soon."
Howes’ commitment to the Martlets follows a historic 2025 campaign that firmly established her as a premier name in Bermudian swimming. Just last month, the 17-year-old shattered a 42-year-old age-group record in the 200m butterfly at the BASA Winter Age Group Championships. Clocking a time of 2:26.89, she eclipsed the previous short-course benchmark set by Mary Mowbray in 1983.
The achievement was the culmination of a year defined by elite consistency. In June 2025, Howes was crowned the Senior National Champion at the Ascot Bermuda National Swimming Championships, following a season where she dominated the domestic freestyle circuit and demonstrated her tactical growth in the butterfly disciplines.
Howes is no stranger to the high-pressure environment of representative sport. A veteran of the CARIFTA Swimming Championships, she has been a frequent podium finisher for the Gombey Warriors. Her breakout performance came at the 2023 Games in Curaçao, where she secured two silver medals in the 100m backstroke and the 200m Freestyle, alongside a Relay Bronze.
Her development has been further sharpened at the world-renowned Bolles School in Florida, where she helped her team secure the FHSAA Class 1A State Championship title. During her time in the United States, she consistently clocked top-tier times, including a 52.02-second finish in the 100-yard freestyle that helped Bolles dominate the Florida state rankings.
At McGill, Howes is expected to bolster a Martlets squad that has traditionally excelled in the RSEQ conference. Her versatility across freestyle and butterfly will be a vital asset in dual meet scoring and relay depth.
For Howes, the move to Canada represents the next step toward a loftier goal. Speaking after her record-breaking swim in December, she signaled her intent to follow in the footsteps of Bermudian Olympians like Emma Harvey. With her commitment to the Martlets now official, the Warwick Academy product joins a growing list of Bermudians making their mark in the Canadian collegiate system.
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