EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — The regular season has been over for quite some time now, but finally, it is championship season. On Feb. 26, Villanova's swimming and diving teams descended upon the Nassau County Aquatic Center for the BIG EASt Championships. For the women's team, the Wildcats are looking for their seventh consecutive conference title, while the men are hoping to improve upon last year's fourth-place finish.

The championships started with the women's 800 freestyle relay, an event that the group of Kelly Montesi, Grace Wielar, Nicole Welch and Milly Routledge dominated. The foursome swam 7:16.85 in the event, more than seven seconds faster than runners-up Xavier.

Montesi, Rayann Jaryszak, Micaele Grassi and Routledge made up the first-place 200 medley relay team for the Wildcats. The group went 1:40.44 in the event, once again topping Xavier. Bridie Dunn took third in the 1 meter dive, scoring 511.00.

Villanova's men were just as successful in their side of the 800 freestyle relay, taking first with a time of 6:36.55. Stephen Krecsmar, Jake McIntyre, Noah Chernik and Justin Cucchi combined to take the top spot, besting Seton Hall by just .29 seconds.

Andrew Kelley, JJ Strain, Nick Fiddler and Cucchi finished fourth in the 200 medley relay, swimming 1:30.16. 

At the end of the first day, the men's side is tied for first with Georgetown, each having 70 points. Meanwhile, the women sit in second with 121 points behind only Georgetown. 

Villanova returns to the pool tomorrow for the 500 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay and men's 3 meter dive finals.