GENEVA, Ohio (February 25, 2023) – Howard University women's swimming and diving team took fourth overall at the Northeast Conference (NEC) Championships, compiling 498 points over the five-day tournament.
 
Freshman standout Zuilda Nwaeze (Columbia, Md.) was named NEC Rookie of the Meet after setting five records in Ohio.
 
On the final day, junior Michaela Spears (Chicago) led the way with a victory in the 200 Breast, clocking in at 2:17.76. Second-year Bison Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson (Nassau, Bahamas) also competed in the event, earning bronze with a 2:19.98 mark.
 
In the 400 Free Relay, Spears, Nwaeze, senior Courtney Connolly (White Lake, Mich.) and sophomore Kelsey Roberson (West Orange, N.J.) placed third overall, recording a 3:26.05 time.
 
Individually, Roberson participated in the 100 Free where she earned eighth overall (53.02).
 
For the second straight year, the coaching staff received NEC Coaching Staff of the Year, led by Howard Director of Swimming & Diving Nicholas Askew. This year's staff consisted of assistant coach Salim King, volunteer coach Miriam Lynch, Ph.D, diving coach Courtenay Miller, yoga specialist Jasmine Payne and manager Iman Ferguson.
 
Central Connecticut State lead from start-to-finish, scoring 659.5 points. Wagner College finished second (601.5 points), followed by LIU (520.5 points).
 
On March 9-11, several Bison will travel to Elkhart, Ind., for the CSCAA National Invitational Championships.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.