SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 10, 2025) – The Little East Conference (LEC) has announced their Athletes of the Week for last week. The awards were based on the previous week's individual performances. The conference has once again recognized a Golden Bear for their performance in the double dual meet with Gordon College and Westfield State University.

Chicopee Comprehensive High School graduate Ella Smith has been named the LEC's Swimmer of the Week for the third consecutive time that she has been capable of winning the award. Smith did not lose a race for the second meet in a row last week. Smith swam in four events, including a relay, and raced past the competitors with pace. The Chicopee, Massachusetts native started the meet in the Breaststroke leg of the 200 Yard Medley Relay. Smith helped the Golden Bears claw back and win the race after trailing early in the race. Smith swam a time of 30.71 in the race. Smith then swam the 200 Yard Freestyle race, in which Smith won with a time of 1:59.82. The 100 Yard Freestyle then saw Smith win with a time of 55.69, a personal best for the year. Finally, the 200 Yard IM saw Smith place first by over seven seconds with a time of 2:13.68.

Smith and the women's swim team will be in Willimantic, Connecticut, on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 5:00 PM for the Eastern Connecticut State University Relays.