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Rider, Marist Win MAAC Crowns

The Marist College women's and Rider University men's swimming and diving teams claimed the league titles at the 2014 MAAC Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships, held at the Burt Flickinger Athletic Center at Erie Community College.

The Rider men win their third consecutive MAAC title with a total of 735 points, while Marist College registered 689 points for second place.  Canisius College came in third with 529 points, followed by Bryant University (355), Saint Peter’s University (351), Niagara University (336), Iona College (307), Manhattan College (240), and Fairfield University (196).

Rider’s strong performance was led by senior Trevor Hiller who placed first on the one-meter dive with a score of 318.15. Hiller would be named the 2014 MAAC Championship Men’s Most Outstanding Diver. Hiller received the honor for the second consecutive year. Rider’s men took first place in three relay events during the championship. The team of Matthan-Matthew Martir, Adam Phillips, Shane Tubb and Ian Flynn won the 200 medley relay and the 400 medley relay, finishing with times of 1:31.88 and 3:21.76 respectively. Shane Tubb took home a first place finish for the Broncs in the 100 fly, while William Molloy’s first place finish came in the 200 free. Trailing Marist College by 14 points after the first night, Rider came out and took a 533 - 493 lead at the end of the second day of competition. After winning the 800 free relay to close out night two, Rider never faltered on day three to take home the league championship. Sam Cramer opened the night up for the Rider men with a first place finish in the 1650 free.

On the women's side, Marist earned the conference crown for the fourth consecutive year and the 15th time overall as the Red Foxes tallied 801 points.  Rider finished in second place (595).  Canisius came in third with 535.5 points, followed by Saint Peter’s (526.5), Siena College (376), Iona (370), Fairfield (237), Niagara (202) and Manhattan (106).

Holding on tight to the lead, Marist’s women never fell behind in points throughout the three day championship. The Red Foxes began the championship with a first place win in the 200 free relay. Meredith Wurtz, Emily Miles, Bridget Curley and Maddie Arciello combined for a time of 1:34.32. Kimberly Tobias placed first in the three-meter dive with a score of 237.95. Tobias was named the 2014 MAAC Championship Women’s Most Outstanding Diver. Marist’s Bonnie Orr finished first in the 1000 free, while Emily Miles claimed first place in the 100 fly. Maddie Arciello placed first in the 200 free, while Orr took first in another long distance event in the 1650 free. To finish out the MAAC championship, the Red Foxes won the final women’s event of the evening, placing first in the 400 free relay.

The 2014 MAAC Women’s Championship Most Outstanding Swimmer was awarded to Matea Samerdzic, a freshman at Saint Peter’s University. Samardzic, who qualified for the NCAA meet championship with her MAAC record breaking 200 back time, placed first in six events and second in another. Samardzic also broke four records, two individual, during the championship meet. Another Saint Peter’s freshman, Jonathan Gomez, was named the 2014 MAAC Men’s Championship Most Outstanding Swimmer. Gomez broke a MAAC championship record in the 200 fly on his way to three first place finishes and one second place finish. The Peacocks ended the league championship breaking seven MAAC championship records. The 2014 Men’s and Women’s MAAC Diving Coach of the Year was awarded to Ian O’Rourke of Canisius College. Marist's Larry Van Wagner was tabbed as the 2014 MAAC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year.  Steve Fletcher was named the 2014 MAAC Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year.

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