University of Richmond Athletics
Wednesday, February 18
Hampton Virginia Aquaplex/ Hampton, Va.
10 a.m. prelims | 6 p.m. finals
University of Richmond
at
Atlantic 10 Championships
Richmond Crowned Atlantic 10 Champions, Barany Named Coach of the Year
02/22/2026 | Women's Swimming & Diving
HAMPTON, Va. – For the first time since 2021, the University of Richmond's swimming and diving team won the Atlantic 10 Championship, tallying 600 points over the four-day meet and collecting four gold medals, five silver medals and four bronze medals at the Hampton Virginia Aquaplex.
The Spiders held the No. 1 position from the start of the championship and sealed the team title with a gold-medal finish in the 400 free relay. Richmond ended George Washington's four-year championship run, beating the Revolutionaries by 27.5 points.
Head coach Matt Barany was named Women's Swimming Coach of the Year for the 11th time in his career at Richmond.
"I think the best part about this championship is that it was led by seniors from start to finish," Barany said.
"We've had many championship teams, and I think when it's senior-led, it's some of the most fulfilling championships that we can capture. These seniors have been hungry. It's a 26-week-long training process. They did it the right way. They came in here with an attitude that 'we can do this, and this is something we are capable of doing,' and they delivered."
With nine Spiders advancing to finals on the final day, Richmond earned two gold medals, one silver and one bronze.
The 400 free relay captured gold and earned a NIC A cut with a time of 3:19.87. Swimming the relay were Presley Baber (50.15), Julia Krichev (50.04), Caitlyn Hughes (50.02) and Lena Amare (49.66).
Baber captured her first individual gold medal in the 100 free with a NIC B cut time of 49.84. Her mark ranks fourth-fastest in program history. In the finals, Amare finished fifth in 50.17, Krichev placed sixth in 50.22 — the 10th-fastest time in program history — and Hughes finished seventh in 50.70.
In the 200 breast, Gabbie Primiano captured silver with a NIC B cut time of 2:14.47. In the B final, Molly Blanchard finished 15th in 2:19.07.
In the 200 back, Hannah Wieczorek earned bronze with a NIC B cut time of 1:57.09. Caroline Weldon finished fifth and earned a NIC B cut in 1:58.45.
In the 1,650 free, Natalie Stuart finished fourth with a personal-best NIC B cut time of 16:49.03, the seventh-fastest mark in program history. Erin Budde placed fifth with a personal-best 16:55.17, Kaitlyn Bauer finished sixth with a personal-best 16:56.81, and Carys Edgar placed 12th in 17:15.82.
In the B final of the 200 fly, MaryAgnes Smith finished 12th with a NIC B cut time of 2:03.39.
In the 1-meter dive, Addie Grainger advanced to the B final and finished 16th with 224.95 points.
Richmond 2026 Atlantic 10 Medals:
Major Award
Final Atlantic 10 Championship Standings:
Richmond returns to action in two weeks as it prepares for NCAA Diving Zones on March 9-14 and for the NIC Championships March 12-14.
🏆 SPIDERS ON TOP! 🏆
— University of Richmond Swim & Dive (@SpiderSwimDive) February 22, 2026
Richmond is your 2026 @atlantic10 champions! #OneRichmond pic.twitter.com/hxHSxANyjB
The Spiders held the No. 1 position from the start of the championship and sealed the team title with a gold-medal finish in the 400 free relay. Richmond ended George Washington's four-year championship run, beating the Revolutionaries by 27.5 points.
Head coach Matt Barany was named Women's Swimming Coach of the Year for the 11th time in his career at Richmond.
Coach of the Year leading the way 🥳🌊#A10SD | #A10FIFTY |@SpiderSwimDive |@SpiderAthletics pic.twitter.com/TtqDkRdDwH
— Atlantic 10 Conference (@atlantic10) February 22, 2026
"I think the best part about this championship is that it was led by seniors from start to finish," Barany said.
"We've had many championship teams, and I think when it's senior-led, it's some of the most fulfilling championships that we can capture. These seniors have been hungry. It's a 26-week-long training process. They did it the right way. They came in here with an attitude that 'we can do this, and this is something we are capable of doing,' and they delivered."
With nine Spiders advancing to finals on the final day, Richmond earned two gold medals, one silver and one bronze.
The 400 free relay captured gold and earned a NIC A cut with a time of 3:19.87. Swimming the relay were Presley Baber (50.15), Julia Krichev (50.04), Caitlyn Hughes (50.02) and Lena Amare (49.66).
Baber captured her first individual gold medal in the 100 free with a NIC B cut time of 49.84. Her mark ranks fourth-fastest in program history. In the finals, Amare finished fifth in 50.17, Krichev placed sixth in 50.22 — the 10th-fastest time in program history — and Hughes finished seventh in 50.70.
In the 200 breast, Gabbie Primiano captured silver with a NIC B cut time of 2:14.47. In the B final, Molly Blanchard finished 15th in 2:19.07.
In the 200 back, Hannah Wieczorek earned bronze with a NIC B cut time of 1:57.09. Caroline Weldon finished fifth and earned a NIC B cut in 1:58.45.
In the 1,650 free, Natalie Stuart finished fourth with a personal-best NIC B cut time of 16:49.03, the seventh-fastest mark in program history. Erin Budde placed fifth with a personal-best 16:55.17, Kaitlyn Bauer finished sixth with a personal-best 16:56.81, and Carys Edgar placed 12th in 17:15.82.
In the B final of the 200 fly, MaryAgnes Smith finished 12th with a NIC B cut time of 2:03.39.
In the 1-meter dive, Addie Grainger advanced to the B final and finished 16th with 224.95 points.
Richmond 2026 Atlantic 10 Medals:
- Hannah Wieczorek, Presley Baber, Lena Amare, Julia Krichev (200 medley relay – 1st – Gold)
- Erin Budde, Caitlyn Hughes, Gabbie Primiano, Lena Amare (800 free relay – 2nd – Silver)
- Lena Amare (200 IM – 2nd – Silver)
- Gabbie Primiano (200 IM – 3rd – Bronze)
- Presley Baber (50 free – 3rd – Bronze)
- Presley Baber, Julia Krichev, Caitlyn Hughes, Hannah Wieczorek (200 free relay – 1st – Gold)
- Caitlyn Hughes (200 free – 3rd – Bronze)
- Presley Baber (100 breast – 2nd – Silver)
- Hannah Wieczorek, Presley Baber, Lena Amare, Caitlyn Hughes (400 medley relay – 2nd – Silver)
- Presley Baber, Julia Krichev, Caitlyn Hughes, Lena Amare (400 free relay – 1st – Gold)
- Presley Baber (100 free – 1st – Gold)
- Gabbie Primiano (200 breast – 2nd – Silver)
- Hannah Wieczorek (200 back – 3rd – Bronze)
Major Award
- Matt Barany (Women's Swimming Coach of the Year)
Final Atlantic 10 Championship Standings:
- Richmond – 600 points
- George Washington – 572.5 points
- Duquesne – 516.5 points
- La Salle – 477 points
- Fordham – 371 points
- St. Bonaventure – 358 points
- Rhode Island – 234 points
- George Mason – 211 points
- Davidson – 169 points
- Saint Louis – 142 points
Richmond returns to action in two weeks as it prepares for NCAA Diving Zones on March 9-14 and for the NIC Championships March 12-14.
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