The Fairfield University men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams opened the 2014-15 season with a split against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opponent Manhattan College this afternoon at the RecPlex Pool. The Fairfield women posted a 218-76 win over the Jaspers while the men were edged 156.5-141.5.
On the women’s side, senior Meredith LaBerge (Newtown, Pa.) recorded two individual victories in the 800m freestyle and 400m freestyle. LaBerge posted an 800m time of 9:43.71 and a 400m time of 4:45.49. Fairfield took the top three spots in the 400m freestyle event.
Junior Kelly Mulligan (Bellerose, N.Y.) and classmate Liz Avery (Hampden, Mass.) captured two individual victories apiece on the day. Mulligan finished first in the 100m backstroke (1:09.33) and the 200m backstroke (2:30.27) while Avery captured the 50m freestyle (28.47) and the 100m freestyle (1:03.14).
Freshman Sierra Weiner (Centerport, N.Y.) made a splash during her collegiate debut, recording three individual victories. Weiner captured the 200m freestyle (2:10.14), the 100m butterfly (1:06.28), and the 200m IM (2:33.13).
Rookies Kellie Cannon (Long Beach, N.Y.), Maddie Prior-Hull (North Billerica, Mass.), Kelly Kortes (Fair Lawn, N.J.), and Brianna Thompson (Basking Ridge, N.J.) also made their collegiate debut. In the 100m backstroke, Cannon finished second with a time of 1:11.6 while Thompson clocked in fourth (1:12.34). Cannon recorded another second place finish in the 100m freestyle with a time of 1:03.34. Prior-Hull placed third in the 100m butterfly with a time of 1:10.12.
The 200m medley relay of Mulligan, Meghan Guinee (Berkeley Heights, N.J.), Weiner, and Michelle Pleban (Seymour, Conn.) had a time of 2:05.64 to place first. In the 200m freestyle relay, Avery, Mulligan, Cannon, and Prior-Hull finished first with a winning time of 1:54.87.
Senior Ashlee Steinberger (Haddonfield, N.J.) captured both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events for the women. Steinberger recorded a mark of 248.55, for a personal best, on the 1-meter and a score of 249.60 on the 3-meter. The runner-up for both boards was classmate Lauren Kemple (Walpole, Mass.). Kemple had a 1-meter score of 195.60 and a 3-meter mark of 210.90. Sophomore Leah Pawelczyk (Berlin, Conn.) placed third on the 3-meter board, with a personal best 205.65, and fourth on the 1-meter (133.43). Sophomore Caroline Gailius (Milton, Mass.) posted a 188.25 on the 1-meter board, to place third, while rookie Sally Doherty (Needham, Mass.) made her debut on the 3-meter board with a score of 159.53.
On the men’s side, junior Connor Daly (Reading, Mass.) posted three individual victories. Daly captured the 200m butterfly with a time of 2:10.80. He also recorded victories in the 200m breaststroke (2:30.06), and the 200m IM (2:13.70).
Classmate Andrew Robinson (Warwick, R.I.) posted two individual victories on the day. Robinson captured the 800m freestyle with a time of 9:13.43 and the 400m freestyle with a time of 4:26.33.
Fairfield took the first two spots in the 400m freestyle event. Following Robinson was rookie Jameson Duncan (Stamford, Conn.) with a runner-up time of 4:33.52. In the 50m freestyle event, senior Jay Cook (Lynnfield, Mass.) placed second with a time of 24.86, for a personal best.
Freshmen Michael Capodanno (Centerport, N.Y.) and Collin Hayes (Northport, N.Y.) made splashes in their collegiate debut recording a relay win. Capodanno swam the third leg and Hayes anchored in the 200m freestyle relay which recorded a winning time of 1:40.15. Capodanno also placed fourth in the 50m freestyle (25.41) while Hayes placed third in the 200m backstroke (2:22.71).
The 200m medley relay of Hayes, Daly, Cook, and Capodanno had a time of 1:52.78 to place second. Rounding out the Stags’ effort was sophomore Robert Hansen (Millbury, Mass.) and rookies Kyle Lally (New Milford, N.J.) who also made their collegiate debut.
Fairfield took the top three spots in both the men’s 1-meter and 3-meter diving. On the 3-meter, senior Evan Barr (Malvern, Pa.) and sophomore Daniel Pires (Chelmsford, Mass.) tied for first place, scoring 269.40 apiece. Will Sullivan (East Kingston, N.H.) took third place on the 3-meter with a 215.55 mark. Freshman Benjamin Martin (Quincy, Mass.) made his collegiate debut with a 131.10 score on the event. On the 1-meter, Pires took the top spot with a score of 262.58, while Barr was the runner-up with a score of 255.90 on the event. Sullivan followed in third (224.25) while Martin posted a 149.03.
The Fairfield men’s (0-1) and women’s (1-0) teams will continue their home stand. The swimming & diving team will return to the RecPlex Pool on Friday, October 24 when the Stags host Fordham at 5pm.
