WELLESLEY, Mass. — Maine Maritime Academy men's swimming & diving team turned in a strong showing Saturday night at the 2026 Little East Conference Championships, highlighted by multiple podium finishes and a runner-up standing in the team race through 36 events.

The Mariners sit second overall with 583.5 points, trailing only Bridgewater State University and holding off Eastern Connecticut State University in a tightly contested championship meet.

Senior Oliver Cox kicked off MMA's day in championship fashion winning his second-straight LEC one-meter diving title and his second championship on the week posting a score of 414.75, winning by over 50 points.

Sophomore Michael Ordonez finished third in the event with a score of 332.45, while freshman Joe Smith IV posted a 254.50 to finish seventh.

Maine Maritime opened the evening finals with a fourth-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay. The Mariners touched in 1:39.95, staying within striking distance of the top three and setting the tone for the remainder of the session.

In the 400-yard individual medley, sophomore Nate Gibbons delivered a fourth-place finish in 4:33.88, clocking a consistent race across all four strokes to score key championship-final points. Freshman Henry Keepes added an eighth-place finish in 5:13.17, contributing additional team points.

The Mariners found more success in the sprint events. Senior Fox Fernald tied for 10th in the 50-yard butterfly (25.20), while Senior Thomas Murray (13th, 26.43) and sophomore Cam Hedstrom (15th, 26.77) added depth scoring in the consolation final.

In the 200-yard freestyle, freshman Matthew Levesque placed fifth in 1:52.03 to earn a spot in the championship final, while sophomore Luis Guillen Barcia added an eighth-place finish in 1:56.20.

The 100-yard backstroke proved to be one of the Mariners' strongest events of the night. Freshman Connor Hedstrom surged to a runner-up finish in 53.09, narrowly behind the event winner and posting one of the top times in program championship history. Freshman Dominic Miele followed with a fifth-place finish (55.18), and Freshman Ryan Johnson Rees added a seventh-place showing (56.97) to give Maine Maritime three scorers in the championship final.

In the 100-yard breaststroke, Freshman Timmy Reda led the way with a fourth-place finish in 1:00.41, just hundredths shy of the top three. Senior Aidan Burke added a sixth-place swim in 1:01.35, and freshman Jack Davis secured 12th overall (1:05.95) in the consolation final.

The Mariners closed the night with a strong third-place finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay. The quartet combined for a time of 7:19.21, delivering a key podium result to cap the finals session and keep Maine Maritime firmly in second place in the overall standings.

With one day remaining at the Little East Championships, the Mariners remain in contention as they look to close out the meet with another strong performance Sunday.