LEXINGTON, VA. – The Bryant University women’s swimming and diving team secured its first America East Championship title on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the VMI Aquatics Center in Lexington, Virginia. The Bulldogs finished with a total of 775 points, surpassing defending champion New Hampshire by a margin of 115 points.
This championship marks the sixth in program history for Bryant, building on a dominant run of five consecutive Northeast Conference titles from 2018 to 2022. Bryant is the first women’s team to win an America East Championship since joining the conference in 2022-23.
Ruby Tonelli-Smith was recognized as the America East Swimmer of the Meet, having captured gold medals in the 100 fly, 200 fly, and 200 IM. Megan Beasley earned the America East Diver of the Meet honor, winning gold on the 3-meter board and securing a silver medal in the 1-meter dive. Tonelli-Smith’s 200 IM time was 2:02, according to America East officials.
The Bulldogs’ coaching staff, led by Katie Cameron, Billy Gordon, Aimee Bourassa, Mary Ellen Clark, and Lettie Williams, was named the America East Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
Aurelie Honsberger was awarded the Elite 18 Award, recognizing the student-athlete with the highest GPA during the championships. Honsberger maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA.
The championship meet included 16 events, including the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 fly, as well as the 400 free relay. Earlier in the competition, Makayla Pearce placed third in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 17:00.25, and Megan Beasley took second in the 1-meter diving finals (251.75). The women’s 400-yard medley relay team, comprised of Jacqui Fox, Elayna Pistrin, Ruby Tonelli-Smith, and Marcella Fiigueroa, finished third with a time of 3:44.10.
Cam Stetzer successfully defended his title in the men’s 200 IM, finishing in 1:47.46.
