College Swimming and Diving
Men: Rider University 194.50, Fairfield University 91.50
Women: Rider University 178, Fairfield University 110
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Meet
Hiller - Fairfield Pool Record - One Meter Dive

FAIRFIELD, Conn.--Both the Rider University men's and women's swimming and diving teams won a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference meet at Fairfield Saturday afternoon.

"It was a different kind of meet, swimming short course meters," said head coach Steve Fletcher. "It allowed us to work on some things, starts, turns, pacing; things that down the road could very well factor in the championship meet in February."

For the Rider men, junior Johnny Funk (Las Vegas, Nev./Southeast Career & Tech. Academy) won the 100 back (1:00.05) and 200 back (2:12.40), freshman Drew Peterson (Boulder City, Nev./Boulder City) won the 200 fly (2:10.01) and 400 free (4:06.47) and sophomore Trevor Hiller (Galloway Twp./Absegami) won the one-meter dive with a Fairfield pool record (304.03).

"Diving coach Eric Blevins had done an excellent job with the divers," Fletcher said. "He has done a great job bringing the divers along and adjusting to the MAAC, being a first-year coach. He has a great relationship with the divers. Trevor and Brendan work very well together. They feed off each other in training and challenge each other."

For the Rider women, sophomore Melanie Leonhard (Piscataway) won the 200 free (2:10.22) and 400 free (4:33.68) with junior Kelly O'Connor (Beverly, Mass./Beverly) winning the 200 fly (2:22.07) and 200 back (2:21.45).

"We swam well," Fletcher said. "This time of year, we are working on details in training but in a MAAC competition meet, that awareness is heightened and you get better output and results."

Also for the Bronc men, freshman Zach DeLillo (Reading, Pa./Wilson) won the 100 fly (58.51), sophomore Sean Newhouse (Katy, Texas/Morton Ranch) won the 200 free (1:59.46), junior Julien Hensen (Delafield, Wis./Kettle Moraine) won the 100 breast (1:05.84), senior Brendan Cavallaro (Middleboro, Mass./Middleboro) won the three-meter dive (299.62), junior Brian Molloy (Toms River/Toms River HS East) won the 100 free (54.05) and junior Jeremy Chaudet (Branchburg/Somerville) won the 200 breast (2:29.29).

Also for the Bronc women, freshman Morgan Kandrac (Hamilton/Notre Dame) won the 200 breast (2:47.86), freshman Rachel Brooker (Stevens, Pa./Cocalico) won the 100 fly (1:06.53) and freshman Carlee Oswald (Henderson, Nev./Green Valley) won the 200 IM (2:27.81).

The women's 200 medley relay of senior Kori Kraus (Mays Landing/St. Joseph's), Kandrac, Brooker and freshman Taylor Byerly (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) won with a time of 2:04.78 and the 200 free relay of junior Addie Oswald (Henderson, Nev./Green Valley), Kraus, sophomore Danielle Warwick (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales Academy) and junior Stephanie Anderer (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown HS East) won with a time of 1:52.17.

The men's 200 medley relay of Funk, junior Kyle Grosman (Green Pond/Morris Knolls), DeLillo and Hensen won with a time of 1:48.46.

"We had the opportunity for our athletes to swim different events and get the freshmen especially more involved," Fletcher said. "The underclassmen have had an immediate impact on the team to start and have a growing impact over the course of the season. It's good to see that."

Rider and Fairfield last met in the pool for a dual meet on October 27, 2003 when the Broncs also swept the Stags at Fairfield.

"Swimming against a MAAC team, there is a different level of excitement," Fletcher said. "We enjoy the opportunity to swim against conference schools. There is a little extra energy during the meet that all athletes can relate to in their specific sport."

Rider travels to Rutgers on January 28 with the men and women facing Fordham University and the women also facing the host Scarlet Knights in a tri-meet at 10:00am in Piscataway.

"We still have a lot to work on but we are headed in the right direction," Fletcher added. "We are looking forward to a more energized training environment because we are swimming with confidence this time of the season."

The 2012 MAAC Championships will be held February 16-18 at Erie Community College in Buffalo, N.Y.

-RU-