Results

WORCESTER, Mass. - The men's and women's swimming and diving teams opened their 2008-09 campaigns with a split at Holy Cross. The men's team downed the Crusaders, 178-120, while the women's team was edged 160-138.

In his collegiate debut, Kekoa Taparra (Mililani, Hawaii) was a triple-winner. He captured the 1000-yard freestyle in a time of 10:03.81, the 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:01.06, just over two seconds off the Fairfield record, and the 200 IM in a time of 1:59.35. 

Freshman Brian Friedlander (River Edge, N.J.) was a double-winner, capturing the 100 back in a time of 58.21 seconds and the 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:16.43. He also placed second in the 200 IM with  a time of 2:06.46. Sophomore Jonathan O'Connor (Norwalk, Conn.) was also a double-winner, capturing the 200 fly in a time of 2:07.06 and the 200 back in 2:12.53.

Freshman Andrew Robinson (Manalapan, N.J.) captured the 200 free in a time of 1:50.73 and placed second in the 200 fly with a time of 2:10.54 and second in the 100 fly with a time of 56.29 seconds. Classmate Greg Bellizzi (Edison, N.J.) won the 50 free in a time of 22.76 seconds, less than six-tenths of a second off the Fairfield record. Freshman Tommy Peters (Basking Ridge, N.J.) posted a win in the 500 free with a time of 5:15.35. He was also second in the 1000 free in a time of 10:55.88.

Friedlander, Taparra, Robinson, and Belizzi also comprised the victorious 400 medley relay which had a time of 3:43.69.

On the boards, Taylor Stecko (South Windsor, Conn.) captured the 3-meter event with a mark of 247.73. He also finished second on the 1-meter with a score of 220.81. Sophomore Brett Carisio (Cheshire, Conn.) finished third on the 1-meter with a personal best of 179.32 and fourth on the 3-meter with a personal best of 163.65.

On the women's side, rookie Michelle Yoshida (Kaneohe, Hawaii) and senior Meghan Carlson (Worcester, Mass.) were double-winners. Yoshida won the 200 free in a time of 1:58.62 and the 100 free in a time of 55.15 second. Both times were slightly more than two seconds off program records. Carlson, meanwhile, won the 100 back in a time of 1:04.58 and the 200 back with a mark of 2:16.47.

Freshman Teresa Garrity (Middlebury, Conn.) captured the 50 free in a time of 25.78 seconds, which was just over a second off the Fairfield record. She was followed by classmate Brenna Dean (Edison, N.J.) in 25.99 seconds.

The quartet of Kennedy, Garrity, Dean and Yoshida won the 200 freestyle relay in a time of 1:41.59, which was slightly more than a second off the Fairfield record.

Freshman Megan Reilly (Atlantic Highlands, N.J.) was the runner-up in the 200 free with a time of 2:05.73. Classmate Lauren Kennedy (Belmont, Mass.) was the runner-up in the 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:10.41 and in the 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:32.07.

Sophomore Katie Merz (Absecon, N.J.) was the runner-up in the 1000 free with a time of 11:23.83 and in the 500 free in a time 5:25.71.

On the boards, junior Hillary Urbancic (Concord, Mass.) was the runner-up on the 1-meter with a score of 161.25. She also placed third on the 3-meter with a mark of 136.94.

Fairfield returns to the pool on Oct. 17 as it hosts St. Peter's at 4 p.m. at the RecPlex. The Stags then head to the William McCarthy Invitational at the New York Athletic Club on Oct. 19.