University of Massachusets Athletics
Photo by: Chris Tucci - UMass Athletics
2025 Season Preview: Massachusetts Women’s Swim & Dive
October 02, 2025 | Women's Swimming & Diving
The Minutewomen begin the 2025-26 season on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Boston College.
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's swimming and diving set to begin the 2025-26 season on Saturday, October 4, on the road against Boston College at Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, at 12 p.m.
The upcoming season marks the 49th season for the program, with UMass holding an overall record of 247-215-2 (.532), and the second season under the leadership of head coach Maiya Otsuka. It also marks the first year in the Mid-American Conference for the Minutewomen.
New Faces
The Minutewomen return 19 members from last season's team, while adding five new members for the 2025-26 campaign.
The newcomers feature one junior transfer Ece Yildirim, and four freshmen in Kate Baranova, Elle Gray, Flora Klimesch and Anna McCarthy.
The 2024-25 Season
Massachusetts concluded its 2024-25 season at the Atlantic 10 Championships at the Hampton Aquaplex in Hampton, Virginia. The women placed seventh with a score of 284. A new program record and two medalists highlighted the four-day event for the women's team.
Kendall Gilbert made her mark in her debut season, breaking two freshman records and rewriting the program's history books. Gilbert posted a time of 1:02.97 in the 100 breaststroke to set a new freshman record. She also swam a time of 2:11.59 in the 200 breaststroke to not only secure a silver medal and break another freshman record, but to smash a previous program record held by Meriza Werenski (2013-14) to claim the top spot.
On the boards, Khrystyna Yaremyn took home the bronze medal in the three-meter dive with a six-dive total of 281.85.
Additionally, four Minutewomen divers competed in the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships, with Danielle Guerin, Salem Howes, Shreeya Sinha and Yaremyn all qualifying.
MAC Preseason Coaches Poll
In the recent MAC Women's Swimming and Diving Preseason Coaches Poll, the Minutewomen are projected to finish seventh, as announced by the league.
Massachusetts sits behind Akron at No. 1, Miami (OH) and Ohio tied at No. 2, Buffalo at No. 4, Ball State at No. 5 and Eastern Michigan at No. 6. UMass is followed by Bowling Green in eighth and Toledo in ninth.
2025-26 Season Schedule
After the first meet at Boston College on the road, UMass will remain on the road for the Justin Jennings Invitational (Oct. 10-11) and a scrimmage at Yale (Oct. 25). The Minutewomen host Boston University on Saturday, November 8, for their home opener at the Joseph R. Rogers Jr., Pool, before heading to Boston University for the annual Terrier Invitational (Nov. 21-23). UMass closes out the 2025 year with a dual meet in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, against host La Salle and Rhode Island.
The new year kicks off with a home meet against Bryant on January 5, followed by an away meet against UConn on January 10. The Minutewomen then gear up for the Tate Ramsden Invitational (Jan. 16-17) and welcome Fairfield to Amherst on January 24. The team then travels to Fordham (Jan. 31), before the divers finish the regular season at the Northeastern Diving Invitational (Feb. 7).
MAC Championships
The 2026 MAC Women's Swimming and Diving Championships will take place at the Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium in Akron, Ohio, on Wednesday, February 25, through Saturday, February 28.
The upcoming season marks the 49th season for the program, with UMass holding an overall record of 247-215-2 (.532), and the second season under the leadership of head coach Maiya Otsuka. It also marks the first year in the Mid-American Conference for the Minutewomen.
New Faces
The Minutewomen return 19 members from last season's team, while adding five new members for the 2025-26 campaign.
The newcomers feature one junior transfer Ece Yildirim, and four freshmen in Kate Baranova, Elle Gray, Flora Klimesch and Anna McCarthy.
The 2024-25 Season
Massachusetts concluded its 2024-25 season at the Atlantic 10 Championships at the Hampton Aquaplex in Hampton, Virginia. The women placed seventh with a score of 284. A new program record and two medalists highlighted the four-day event for the women's team.
Kendall Gilbert made her mark in her debut season, breaking two freshman records and rewriting the program's history books. Gilbert posted a time of 1:02.97 in the 100 breaststroke to set a new freshman record. She also swam a time of 2:11.59 in the 200 breaststroke to not only secure a silver medal and break another freshman record, but to smash a previous program record held by Meriza Werenski (2013-14) to claim the top spot.
On the boards, Khrystyna Yaremyn took home the bronze medal in the three-meter dive with a six-dive total of 281.85.
Additionally, four Minutewomen divers competed in the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships, with Danielle Guerin, Salem Howes, Shreeya Sinha and Yaremyn all qualifying.
MAC Preseason Coaches Poll
In the recent MAC Women's Swimming and Diving Preseason Coaches Poll, the Minutewomen are projected to finish seventh, as announced by the league.
Massachusetts sits behind Akron at No. 1, Miami (OH) and Ohio tied at No. 2, Buffalo at No. 4, Ball State at No. 5 and Eastern Michigan at No. 6. UMass is followed by Bowling Green in eighth and Toledo in ninth.
2025-26 Season Schedule
After the first meet at Boston College on the road, UMass will remain on the road for the Justin Jennings Invitational (Oct. 10-11) and a scrimmage at Yale (Oct. 25). The Minutewomen host Boston University on Saturday, November 8, for their home opener at the Joseph R. Rogers Jr., Pool, before heading to Boston University for the annual Terrier Invitational (Nov. 21-23). UMass closes out the 2025 year with a dual meet in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, against host La Salle and Rhode Island.
The new year kicks off with a home meet against Bryant on January 5, followed by an away meet against UConn on January 10. The Minutewomen then gear up for the Tate Ramsden Invitational (Jan. 16-17) and welcome Fairfield to Amherst on January 24. The team then travels to Fordham (Jan. 31), before the divers finish the regular season at the Northeastern Diving Invitational (Feb. 7).
MAC Championships
The 2026 MAC Women's Swimming and Diving Championships will take place at the Oliver J. Ocasek Natatorium in Akron, Ohio, on Wednesday, February 25, through Saturday, February 28.
Players Mentioned
Free/Breast
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Breast
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free
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