The Marist women’s swimming and diving team captured its sixth straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday at Erie Community College’s Burt Flickinger Athletic Center. With 860 points, the Red Foxes won by their largest margin program history, overtaking Canisius by 332 points.
The Red Foxes won the 28th MAAC title overall for the Marist swimming and diving program and 32nd overall conference title.
Marist built an enormous lead on Day Two and maintained it on the final day of the conference championships with first place finishes from freshman Karly Haraden (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) in the 1,650-yard freestyle (17:04.70) and sophomore Isabella Morreale (Short Hills, N.J.) in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:20.49).
Sophomore Meredith Wurtz (Lafayette Hill, Pa.) finished second in the 100-yard freestyle and was the anchor of Marist’s first place 400-yard freestyle relay team that clocked in at 3:28.05.
Marist had the most competitors in the 200-yard backstroke, as four Red Foxes competed in the final. Junior Bethany Powhida (Delmar, N.Y.) finished in second place with a time of 2:03.77 followed closely by sophomore Colleen Lampe (East Setauket, N.Y.) in third (2:03.99).
Melanie Bolstad was named 2015 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Diving Coach of the Year, while junior Renata Diotalevi (Madison, Conn.) was named the conference's Most Outstanding Diver. Bolstad led Marist’s trio of women’s divers to a 1-2-3 finish on the 1-meter board on Day Two of the 2015 MAAC Championships. In her 26 seasons, she has led Marist’s swimming and diving program to 33 conference championships combined and has coached 20 MAAC Divers of the Year.
Diotalevi earned her first career victory on Day Three of the 2015 MAAC Championships after winning the 3-meter dive with a score of 263.80 points.
The Red Foxes will continue their championship season at the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships from Feb. 27-March 1 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Final Team Scores
1. Marist College – 860 points
2. Canisius College – 528 points
3. Rider University – 436.50 points
4. Saint Peter’s University – 407 points
5. Siena College – 388 points
6. Iona College – 376 points
7. Fairfield University – 298 points
8. Niagara University – 297 points
9. Manhattan College – 141.50 points
The Marist men’s swimming and diving team finished as runners up for the fourth consecutive year at the 2015 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships on Saturday. The Red Foxes scored 635 points, just 54 points shy of first place Rider University.
On the final day, sophomore Ryan Murphy (New Fairfield, Conn.) won the 1,650-yard freestyle in 15:30.67 to begin the evening session. Senior John Spitzer (Fairport, N.Y.) won the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 45.49 seconds.
Marist posted solid performances in the 200-yard backstroke, as senior Dylan Cummings (Midland Park, N.J.) placed second with a time of 1:49.30 and freshman Jackson Wahl (Portland, Ore.) finished fourth by clocking in at 1:51.83. Senior Jason Ruddy (Lake Katrine, N.Y.) had the fastest Marist time in the 200-yard butterfly, finishing third in 1:51.62.
Junior Josh Dodway (Niskayuna, N.Y.) finished second in the 1-meter dive, racking up 287.60 points. Senior Jacob Baker (Shavertown, Pa.) placed fifth in the same event (263.40 points).
The Red Foxes will continue their championship season at the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships from Feb. 27-March 1 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Final Team Scores
1. Rider University – 689.50 points
2. Marist College – 635.50 points
3. Canisius College – 498 points
4. Saint Peter’s University – 482.50 points
5. Iona College – 349 points
6. Bryant University – 339.50 points
7. Niagara University – 300 points
8. Manhattan College – 230 points
9. Fairfield University – 207 points
Freshman Ben Schulte (Mermaid Beach, Australia) capped the greatest championship performance in Bryant University men's swimming and diving history as he claimed his third gold medal and third school record to earn MAAC Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet on the final on Saturday at the MAAC Championships.
The Bulldogs finished the four-day event in sixth place.
After capturing gold medals and NCAA "B" cut times in the 200 IM and 100 breast, Schulte capped his rookie meet by outdueling teammate Graham Beck (Danvers, Mass.) in the 200 breast on Saturday. Schulte won the event with a time 2:01.03 and Beck was right behind him with a time of 2:01.90, finishing second and earning a silver medal. Schulte becomes the second swimmer in Bryant history to earn outstanding swimmer of the meet honors, joining four-timer Casey Ostrander.
Other finalists on Saturday included Robert Beauchemin (Holliston, Mass.) and Benon Boyadjian (Middlebury, Conn.) in the 200 back, Pierre Le Guyader (East Islip, N.Y.) in the 100 free and Andrew Neggia (Ramsey, N.J.) in the 200 fly. Brendan Miller-Radest (Chatham, N.J.) finished 15th in the 1650 free with a time of 16:39.83.
Beauchemin finished 11th in the 200 back (1:55.87), while Boyadjian finished 15th (1:58.81). Le Guyader finished fifth in the 100 free (46.25) and Neggia finished 15th in the 200 fly (1:59.79).
In the 1 meter dive, Ian Miller (Meriden, Conn.) set the school record with 231.95 points, finishing 11th. Adam Gauthier (Middletown, Conn.) finished 13th with 201.90 points.
The Black and Gold capped the meet with a school-record performance in the 400 free relay to earn a bronze medal. Schulte swam the lead leg and was followed by Beck, Boyadjian and Le Guyader. The quartet set the program mark with a time of 3:04.21.
