Swimcloud

Rider Splits with UMBC

The Rider swimming & siving teams began the 2015-16 season Saturday, hosting UMBC.

The Rider men defeated UMBC for the first time since 2006, while the Rider women lost to the Retrievers. “The men had an outstanding meet,” said Rider head coach Steve Fletcher.

The Rider men are the four-time defending champions of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and are picked to win the MAAC Title again this year.

The Rider women won the MAAC Title in 2009 and finished runner-up five times since then, and are picked to finish second in the MAAC this year as well.

On Saturday the Rider men were led by sophomore Zack Molloy (Toms River/Toms River HS North), who won the 500 free in a pool record time of 4:36.82, won the 200 free (1:40.64) and swam on the winning 200 medley relay that set a pool record (1:34.10) and the winning 400 free relay that set a pool record in 3:07.00 with junior William Molloy (Toms River/Toms River HS North), freshman Vincent Gibbons (North Brunswick, NJ) and junior Ian Flynn (Dresher, Pa./Upper Dublin).

Also for the Rider men, junior Matthan-Matthew Martir (Severn, Md./Old Mill) won the 50 free (21.32) and swam on the winning 200 medley relay. Martir also broke a Coppola Pool record in the 100 butterfly (50.51) but came in second. “Having a pool record broken by two athletes is pretty impressive,”  Fletcher said.

Freshman Carter Paules (Emmaus, PA) won the 200 breaststroke in a Rider pool record time of 2:07.41 and won 100 breaststroke (58.48).

“It is unusual to break that many records this early in the season but we had great competition today and some great performances,” Fletcher said. “Our freshman class is trying to show where they fit in and did a great job today. We really had some good freshman performances.”

Freshman Griffin Hutton (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West), won the 200 butterfly (1:54.60), senior Wayco Bailey (Casper, Wyo./Natrona County HS) won the 3-meter dive (283.95) and freshman Joseph Warker (Reading, PA/Wilson) won the 1-meter dive (272.85).  “Both of the guys were awesome today,” said Rider diving coach Eric Blevins.  “For Joe to win in his first collegiate meet was something.”

On the women’s side, freshman Breanne Hatter (Lincroft, NJ/Middletown South) won the 3-meter dive (168.68). “Like Joe, to win in your first college meet is special,” Blevins said.

Also for the Rider women, sophomore Hannah Bayer (Forest Hill, MD/Bel Air), won the 500 free (5:36.22).

Senior Kaitlyn O'Connor (Beverly, Mass./Beverly) won the 100 butterfly (1:01.92), and freshman Leeanna Cass (Lanoka Harbor, NJ/Lacey Twp.) won the 200 IM (2:19.46).

Rider competes at home again October 16, hosting Fairfield at 5pm in the Coppola Pool.

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