Marist Women, Rider Men Win the 2015 MAAC Swimming & Diving Championships

Buffalo, N.Y. – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference teams concluded the final day of the new four day format in the 2015 Men’s & Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the Burt Flickinger Athletic Center in Buffalo, New York. Rider University is the 2015 MAAC Men’s Champion, while Marist College claimed the women’s title.

Rider University’s men won their fourth consecutive MAAC Championship title, finishing with 689.50 points. Marist College took second place, right behind the Broncs, with 635 points, while coming in third place was Canisius College at 498 points. Saint Peter’s University followed in fourth totaling 482.50 points, and Iona College came in fifth with 349 points. Finishing in sixth place was Bryant University with 339.50 points, seventh was Niagara University with 300, eighth was Manhattan College with 230 points and Fairfield finished ninth with 207 points.

Marist College’s women’s team won their fifth consecutive conference title with 860 points. In second place was Canisius College with 528 points, while Rider finished with 436.50 points to place third. Saint Peter’s University placed fourth with 407 points, while Siena claimed fifth place with 388 points. Iona College came in sixth place with a total of 376. Following in seventh was Fairfield University with 298 points, eighth was Niagara University with 297 points and ninth, with 141.50 points, was Manhattan College.

The Rider University men continued their strong performance into the final day of competition to claim the team title. Rider Head Coach Steve Fletcher was awarded the 2015 MAAC Men’s Coach of the Year, while Marist College’s Melanie Bolstad was named the 2015 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Diving Coach of the Year. Saint Peter’s Jonathan Gomez broke his own MAAC record in the 200 yard butterfly, clocking in with a time of 1:46.45. The 2015 MAAC Men’s Most Outstanding Swimmer, Benjamin Schulte (Bryant University), finished first in all three of his individual events at the championship. In the final evening’s session, Schulte finished first in the 200 yard backstroke, with a time of 2:01.03. Niagara University senior Shane Baxter was exceptional during the tournament, winning all three of his individual events. Baxter had a first place time of 1:47.93 in the 200 yard backstroke on the final day of competition. Eddie Quarantillo won both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving competitions, with scores of 306.25 and 329.10 respectively. Quarantillo, a Canisius College senior, was named the 2015 MAAC Men’s Most Outstanding Diver.

For the women Marist College continued its championship performance, winning another three events in the final session. Karly Haraden, a Marist freshman, was the champion in women’s 1650 yard freestyle, after winning the 1000 yard freestyle on day three. Isabella Morreale placed first in the women’s 200 yard breaststroke with a time 2:20.49. The Red Foxes took first place in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:49.32, featuring Georgia Goldman, Bethany Powhida, Bridget Curly and Meredith Wurtz. The 2015 MAAC Women’s Coach of the Year is Canisius College’s Scott Vanderzell. Saint Peter’s University sophomore Matea Samardzic won her third individual event in the 200 yard backstroke in a time of 1:57.43, and was awarded the 2015 MAAC Women’s Most Outstanding Swimmer. Another Peacock, Marie Feneron, won three individual events during the championship, including took first place in the 200 yard butterfly on the final day, finishing with a time of 2:05.42. On the diving board Marist College’s Renata Diotalevi placed first in the 3-meter dive and third in the 1-meter dive, scoring 263.80 and 247.80 respectively. Diotalevi was named the 2015 MAAC Women’s Most Outstanding Diver.