College Swimming
Rider Sweeps Marist
Men: Rider University 170, Marist College 124
Women: Rider University 151.5, Marist College 148.5

LAWRENCEVILLE-The Broncs swept Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rival Marist Saturday. "For the last eight years Marist has been the team to beat," said Rider head coach Steve Fletcher, the MAAC Coach of the Year last season, "so I think this is significant to the team, to build their confidence. We also know that Marist is going to perform well at the end of the year."

For the Rider women junior Brianna Burns (Chestnut Ridge, NY/Spring Valley) won the 200 free (1:54.44), the 50 free (24.87) and the 100 free (53.29) and swam on the pool record setting 400 free relay (3:34.74). "Brianna performed very well," Fletcher said. "She doesn't like to lose. If it is close in the last 15 meters I know she is going to win. I have a lot of confidence in her. She sets a great example. She's a very good athlete who trains hard. She has a very positive attitude, she's a very happy person."

"Coming in we knew Marist is a great team," Burns said, "so I tried to be as positive as I could. It was a very exciting meet, especially being Code Cranberry and all of the other varsity athletes here. It was great winning today but we still have to perform very well to beat them at MAACs."

Senior Kellyanne Tomasula (Sussex/Vernon Twp.) won the 100 backstroke (56.81), re-setting her own Coppola Pool record. She also won the 100 butterfly (59.34), the 200 individual medley (2:10.66) and swam on the record setting 400 free relay. "Kellyanne performed very well, again," Fletcher said.

The Rider Rookies once again stood out.

For the Rider men, freshman Brian Molloy (Toms River/Toms River East) won the 1,000 free (9:55.42), the 200 free (1:45.56) and the 500 free (4:46.66). "Brian has been doing a triple every meet," Fletcher said. "The 200 is immediately following the 1,000, so he gets only two minutes rest and barely has enough time to get a drink and he jumps back in and wins the 200. That is a very difficult thing to do, especially for a freshman."

Freshman Johnny Funk (Las Vegas, Nev./SE Career and Tech) won the 100 backstroke (52.56) and the 200 back (1:55.25) and swam on the winning 200 medley relay. "Johnny performed very well, especially for a freshman," Fletcher said.

Freshman Julien Hensen (Delafield, Wis./Kettle Moraine) won the 100 breaststroke (59.83) and the 200 breast (2:14.65). "That's very exciting, getting that kind of performance from a freshman," Fletcher said.

Freshman Kelly O'Connor (Beverly, Mass./Beverly) won the women's  200 butterfly (2:08.96).

Senior Scott Player (Chino Hills, CA/Ruben S. Ayala) won the 50 free (21.76) and the 100 free (48.20). "Scott is have the year of his career," Fletcher said.  "He has a great attitude and is being rewarded for it."

Once again the divers led the  Broncs to victory, with senior Paul Apostolakis (Brooklyn, NY/Fort Hamilton) winning both the 1-meter dive (285.23) and the 3-meter dive and  senior Amanda Burke (Churchville, PA/William Tennent) winning both the 3-meter dive (288.75) and the 1-meter dive (318.75).

"Winning both boards on the men's and women's side, that's invaluable," Fletcher said.  "Sometimes we take all of those points for granted."

"I want to get to the NCAAs," Apostolakis said.  "I went to U.S. Nationals this year and I feel I need to get to NCAAs. I have been working a lot more on the 3-meter. It is good to dive well against Marist, so they know what is coming, come championship time."

The Broncs travel to Lehigh November 7.

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