Michelle Yoshida Captures Third MAAC Title, More Records Set on Final Day of Swimming & Diving
Feb 14, 2009
Day Three
Finals
Day
Three Prelims
BALTIMORE, Md. - Fairfield University's women's swimmer Michelle Yoshida (Kaneohe, Hawaii) won her third MAAC title, set her third MAAC record, and became the first Stag in program history to win three events at a MAAC Championship this evening. Overall, Fairfield swimming & diving set 23 program records at the three-day event. The women's team placed fifth overall while the men finished in seventh place.
Yoshida, who won the 50 and 200 freestyles earlier in the Championships, won the 100 free with a time of 51.26 seconds to set the MAAC record. She broke the previous MAAC mark of 52.24 seconds set last season. She also broke the Fairfield record of 53.25 seconds set by Jennifer Masi at the 2006 MAAC Championships. In all, Yoshida was a part of six program records during the Championships, bringing her season total to 11 in just her first year with the Stags.
Freshman Lauren Kennedy (Belmont, Mass.) finished third in the 200 breaststroke and broke a program record with a time of 2:24.29. The previous standard was 2:28.95 set by Liz Lawlor at MAACs in 2006. Freshman Emily Kelly (Haddon Heights, N.J.) placed 14th in the event with a personal best of 2:36.42.
Freshman Aly Criscuolo (Pittsford, N.Y.) finished sixth in the 200 fly with a time of 2:11.52. In the women's 3-meter diving, junior Hillary Urbancic (Concord, Mass.) finished 15th with a score of 227.35.
The women's 400 medley relay of Teresa Garrity (Middlebury, Conn.), Megan Reilly (Atlantic Highlands, N.J.), Katie Merz (Absecon, N.J.), and Yoshida set a program record with a time of 3:38.24, breaking the mark of 3:40.36 set in 2004.
On the men's side, three Stags placed in the 200 breaststroke. Freshman Brian Friedlander (River Edge, N.J.) finished sixth with a personal best of 2:07.61 while Kekoa Taparra (Mililani, Hawaii) finished in seventh with a time of 2:09.51 Sophomore Charlie Helm (Cheshire, Conn.) placed 14th with a time of 2:16.14.
Sophomore Jonathan O'Connor (Norwalk, Conn.) captured the B final in the 200 fly in record-setting style. He posted a time of 1:58.70 to break the mark of 1:59.74 set 16 years ago to the day by Chris McTague.
Freshman Stefan Toi (Newton, Conn.) clocked a personal best of 1:58.93 to finish 13th in the 200 back.
In the men's 1-meter diving, junior Taylor Stecko (South Windsor, Conn.) placed 10th with a score of 191.00 while sophomore Brett Carisio (Cheshire, Conn.) placed 11th with a mark of 174.50.
The men's 400 freestyle relay of Freshman Andrew Robinson (Manalapan, N.J.), freshman Greg Bellizzi (Edison, N.J.), Taparra, and Friedlander set a program record with a time of 3:13.45, breaking the mark of 3:16.00 set in 2006.
The Loyola men won this year's MAAC crown with a total of 766.50 points, while Rider University registered 762 points for second place. Marist College came in third with 625 points, followed by Iona College (325), Niagara University (318), Saint Peter's College (289), Fairfield University (286.50), Canisius College (208) and Manhattan College (72).
On the women's side, Rider earned the conference crown as the Broncs tallied 766.50 points, while Marist finished in second place (764). Loyola came in third with 727 points, followed by Iona (322.50), Fairfield (321), Siena College (312), Canisius (187), Niagara (184), Manhattan (114) and Saint Peter's (88).
In the prelims, Robinson just missed the cut and a program record in the 100 free with a personal best of 48.21 seconds. He was followed by Bellizzi in a personal best of 48.98 seconds, freshman Brendan Sarpu (South Windsor, Conn.) in a personal best of 50.03 seconds, freshman Anthony Sbona (Higganum, Conn.) in a personal best of 51.85 seconds, and senior Garrett Marqua (Fairfield, Conn.) in a time of 53.64 seconds.
In the prelims of the 200 back, junior Boris Romanovsky (Marblehead, Mass.) just missed the finals with a time of 2:03.82. Freshman Kenny Muti (Walpole, Mass.) had a time of 2:08.76. Freshman Anthony Caserta (Youngstown, N.J.) posted a personal best of 2:10.62 in the prelims of the 200 fly.
In the prelims of the 200 back, freshman Norah Gentile (Manchester, Conn.) had a personal best of 2:17.93. She was followed by Sasha Campbell (Old Greenwich, Conn.) in 2:23.14 and senior Carolyn Sheppard (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) in 2:21.38.
In the prelims of the 100 free, Garrity recorded a personal best of 55.39 seconds while Reilly set a personal best of 55.67 seconds. Sophomore Allie Russoniello (Middletown, N.J.) posted a personal best of 56.25 seconds while freshman Brenna Dean (Edison, N.J.) had a personal best of 56.71 seconds. Freshman Marissa Toselli (Barrington, R.I.) notched a time of 57.41 seconds and was followed by Sam Ceglia (Glen Cove, N.Y.) in a personal best of 57.83 seconds, Alyssa Conroy (Toms River, N.J.) in a personal best of 59.09 seconds, and Wanda Szarek (Middletown, Conn.) in a personal best 59.15 seconds.
In the prelims of the 200 breaststroke, freshman Colleen Wilson (Niantic, Conn.) had a time of 2:43.33 while junior Marina Meliones (Wayland, Mass.) finished in 2:51.97. In the prelims of the 200 fly, Campbell had a time of 2:22.95 while freshman Caroline Menapace (Ambler, Pa.) posted a personal best of 2:24.43 while freshman Samantha Distler (Glens Falls, N.Y.) finished in 2:25.46.
Fairfield will head to the ECAC Championships February 27-March 1 in Boston, Mass.
