It’s been nearly a month since the calm waters have been broken competitively.

On Thursday, swimmers from across the America East field will step up on the blocks, wait for the signal and dive into the pool as they race for title of America East Champion.

The Binghamton University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will travel to Boston University’s aquatic center for the four-day marathon event between the America East teams.

During last year’s AE championship, the Bearcats finished in third place on the men’s side, while the women’s team placed sixth. Reigning AE champions, UMBC, will compete for their fifth consecutive championship win.

The championship, divided into seven sessions, begins with the first session Thursday night at 5 p.m. and wraps up with the final session kicking off at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22.

On Thursday, competition begins with the 800-freestyle relay, 200-medley relay and the men’s one-meter dive. Friday’s events, which begin at 10 a.m., include the 500-freestyle, 200-individual medley, 50-freestyle, 200-freestyle relay and the women’s three-meter dive.

Beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday is the 400-individual medley, 100-butterfly, 200-freestyle, 100-breaststroke, 100-backstroke, 400-medley relay and the men’s three-meter dive. Wrapping up the championship on Sunday at 10 a.m. is the 1,650-freestyle, 200-backstroke, 100-freestyle, 200-breaststroke, 200-butterfly, 400-freestyle and the women’s one-meter dive.

Among the Bearcats who are expected to make waves in Boston, senior Brenno Varanda looks to capture the championship title in the 200-breast for the fourth-straight year. Varanda, who went 3-3 in individual races and earned the America East Men’s Most Outstanding Swimmer honors last year, holds the school and AE championship 200-breast record at 2:02.78 — a time he set at last year’s meet.

The last 200-breaststroker to win four times was Tom Maday of Delaware (a former conference team) back during the 1997-00 seasons.

According to Binghamton head coach Sean Clark, they are still debating whether Varanda will also attempt to win his fourth-straight title in the 400-IM or the 100-breast. In the 400-IM, Varanda also holds the AE championship record at 3:57.93, but he is the top seed in the 100-breast.

“His 100-breast has some spark that he hasn’t had before,” Clark said. “We are going day-by-day to make that judgment call.”

Junior Philip Dzieniszewski heads to the blocks to capture his third-straight AE win in the 50-free.

“[Dzieniszewski] is a big guy … that’s his big event,” Clark said. ”[But] he should have a lot more competition this year.”

Sophomore Jason Chen makes his second appearance at the championship meet. In his first go around, Chen had three top-10 individual finishes. This season, Chen has turned heads, claiming eight first-place finishes. Chen will be swimming the 200-IM, but his other event is still up in the air according to Clark.

“We are still playing a little wait-and-see the next two days, his back is coming along nicely, but his free and fly are great as well,” he said.

Another notable athlete for the BU men is freshman distance swimmer Nolan Slesnick.

In the relay events, look out for Binghamton’s men’s 200-medley team that includes freshman Joe Perez-Rogers leading off in the back, followed by senior Andrew Palumbo in the breast. Dzieniszewski takes over with the fly leg of the race and senior Joe Rogan anchored the team with the freestyle. Clark expects a close contest will take place between Boston, UMBC and Binghamton in the 200-medley relay.

“It’s going to be a quick relay … all three teams are going to be quick,” Clark said. “Whoever wins is going to have to break the conference record.”

In their last competitive relay — a meet against Stony Brook — the foursome placed first in 1:35.81. The last time the Bearcats won the 200-medley relay at the championship was in 2007. It was at that race that Binghamton set the meet record, 1:31.42, which it still holds. Boston won the race last year.

The Bearcats face some challenges on the boards. Binghamton has never had a AE champion in diving. Since 2002, Boston divers have claimed the top spot in the three-meter event.

Senior Ryan Graham, who placed third in both the one- and three-meter events last year, will attempt to add a Bearcat to that list of AE diving champions. Graham currently ranks No. 1 in the all-time Bearcat list for both diving events. He also placed in the top 25 in both events at the 2008 NCAA Diving Zone A Championships.

“[Graham] is going to throw all his tricks and see if he can land higher,” Clark said.

On the women’s side, the Bearcats will look to improve off of last year’s AE championship 6th place finish.

During last year’s meet, then-freshman Brittany Detlef won the bronze in the 100-fly, clocking in at 57.83. The sophomore returns, fresh off double wins in the 100- and 200-fly in a matchup against Stony Brook earlier this month.

Teammate Amanda Ciccone nears the top of the field in the 50-free, 100-fly and 200-IM. Ciccone, a sophomore, placed first in the 50- and 100-free against the Seawolves. She also had five first-place finishes this season. Clark said they are leaning toward the 100-fly and the 100-free for Ciccone. She will also be anchoring four relay squads.

“We’re going day-by-day with her, she is such a well-rounded swimmer,” he said. “We are definitely looking for her to score a lot as an individual.”

Other noteworthy swimmers include the trio of freshman Tricia Alejandro, freshman Elizabeth Hawkins and sophomore Lyndsi Worthington, who was the only two-event finalist at last year’s championship for the women. She raced in the 100- and 200-back.

On the boards for the women, freshman Jenna Easton will head to her first AE championship meet. Easton had her first collegiate win on Jan. 24 in a match between the Bearcats and Colgate. She followed that win with another against Stony Brook. Both wins were on the one-meter board.

Senior Kate Hassfurter will also be representing Binghamton over on the boards. Hassfurter tied for fourth in the three-meter event at last year’s championship.

“On the women’s side, we are in a tight battle with Maine for fifth place, which is a move up,” Clark said.

For those traveling to Boston for the meet, tickets are available at the Aquatic Center beginning Thursday morning, prior to the first session. Advanced tickets for later sessions can be purchased at the door prior to any session. The cost is $8 for adults, $5 for children under 14 and $2 for AE students with a school ID. Advanced tickets are not available to AE students.