Press Release courtesy of MAAC.
Rider University men and Marist College women were selected by the league’s 10 head coaches’ to finish first heading into the 2017-18 Swimming & Diving season. The Broncs men’s team took home the 2017 MAAC Swimming & Diving Championship, while the Red Foxes won the MAAC title for the women and were selected unanimously to finish the 2017-18 season in first place.
Last season, Rider collected its programs sixth-straight MAAC Swimming & Diving Championship and seventh overall. The Broncs are led by senior, Zach Molloy the record holder for the 500 (4:22.74), 200 (1:34.84), and 100 (43.74) Free events at the MAAC Championships. Molloy is also the two time defending MAAC Most Outstanding Male Swimmer of the Year. Rider received nine of 10 first place votes from the coaches and 99 total points.
Marist is tabbed second behind Rider, with 88 points, while Bryant University received 96 points and one first place vote to round out the top three. Fourth, lies Iona College with a total of 66 points and in fifth is Canisius College with 65 points. Niagara University received 44 points placing them in sixth to start the 2017 season, followed by Saint Peter’s University in seventh and Fairfield University in eighth, with 31 and 29 points respectively. Manhattan College received 24 points, and Monmouth University earned 23 to round out the poll.
Marist led competition from day one at the 2017 MAAC Championships en route to its 18thMAAC Swimming & Diving title. The Red Foxes return the MAAC Co-Outstanding Female Swimmer of the Year, Sara Nestrowitz who enters her senior season.
Marist is followed by Rider who received 86 points and Canisius with 75 points. Iona received 71 points putting them in fourth, while Fairfield comes in fifth with 57 points. Niagara received 53 points, which places them ahead of Siena College who received 48 points from the coaches. Manhattan comes in eighth with 27 points, Monmouth ninth with 23 points, while Saint Peter’s sits in 10th with 10 points.
The 2018 MAAC Swimming and Diving Championships will be held at the Burt Flickinger Center at Erie County Community College (ECC) in Buffalo, NY for the eighth consecutive year. The championship will be co-hosted by Canisius College and Niagara University and takes place February 14-18, 2018.
| Men’s Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches’ Poll | ||
| 1. | Rider (9) | 99 |
| 2. | Marist | 88 |
| 3. | Bryant (1) | 81 |
| 4. | Iona | 66 |
| 5. | Canisius | 65 |
| 6. | Niagara | 44 |
| 7. | Saint Peter’s | 31 |
| 8. | Fairfield | 29 |
| 9. | Manhattan | 24 |
| 10. | Monmouth | 23 |
| Women’s Swimming & Diving Preseason Coaches’ Poll | ||
| 1. | Marist (10) | 100 |
| 2. | Rider | 86 |
| 3. | Canisius | 75 |
| 4. | Iona | 71 |
| 5. | Fairfield | 57 |
| 6. | Niagara | 53 |
| 7. | Siena | 48 |
| 8. | Manhattan | 27 |
| 9. | Monmouth | 23 |
| 10. | Saint Peter’s | 10 |
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 37th year of competition during the 2017-18 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.