Champs: USMMA Takes 6th Straight Swimming Title

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's swimming and diving team claimed their sixth straight Landmark Conference Championship with a record-setting performance last weekend in Pennsylvania. 

The Mariners, the only team to win the conference crown, took the top spot at this year's championships in Scranton wining eight individual events and four relays to accumulate 924 points, a new conference record. It was the team's 15th consecutive league title.

Kevin Lindgren, from Palm City, Fla., was named the Landmark Conference Men’s Swimmer of the Year. He recorded the second fastest time in the country this season in the 200 back as his mark of 1:46.70 set pool, meet, academy and conference records as well as easily making a NCAA ‘A’ cut. 

Overall, Lindgren captured seven first-place finishes at the conference championships. He was a member of the 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay, and 400 medley relay teams that all captured gold.  The Sophomore took first-place in three individual events, including the 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 200 backstroke.

USMMA swept all major awards in 2013 in coaching, swimming, diving and rookie of the year categories. Freshman William Porter won diver of the year. Jordan Cripe was named as the conference rookie of the year.

Cripe won the 1,650 freestyle with a time of 16:22.45 on Sunday.

The Mariners wrapped up their 2013 Landmark Conference Championship a record-breaking performance in 400 freestyle relay. The team of Lindgren, Sean Minor, Alvaro Brice and Blake Krell set new academy and conference bests by finishing in 3:05.24. 

The Mariners will compete at the Metropolitan Championships this weekend before heading to the NCAA Championships March 20-23.

The Landmark is an NCAA Division III conference that sponsors 20 championship sports.

Information provided by usmmasports.com