College Swimming & Diving
Rider at MAAC Championships - Day Two
Men First, Women Second
Rider Records Set in Men's 800 Free Relay, 400 IM

BUFFALO, N.Y.--Both the Rider University men's and women's swimming and diving teams are competing at the 2012 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships in Buffalo, New York, Thursday through Saturday at the Erie Community College Burt Flickinger Athletic Center.

After Friday's competition, the Rider men are in first place (533.50 points), 113.50 points ahead of Marist with the Bronc women in second place (448.50), 93 points behind Marist.

"We are swimming well," said head coach Steve Fletcher.  "We have some things to work on (fundamentals) as we head into the final day of the championships.  We're working on a relaxed frame of mind while staying disciplined in preparing for the next race."

For the Rider men on Friday, senior diver Brendan Cavallaro (Middleboro, Mass./Middlesboro) won MAAC gold in the three-meter dive (340.75) in come from behind fashion after finishing the preliminary round in second place.

"Brendan was consistently good during the whole event," said diving coach Eric Blevins.  "His last two dives are new and are some of the hardest to do in the country and he hit them and that's what put him over the top.  I couldn't be prouder."

"Brendan was tremendous," said Fletcher.  "It was his first MAAC title and a terrific performance both by him and diving coach Eric Blevins."

Freshman Drew Peterson (Boulder City, Nev./Boulder City) finished second in the 400 IM with a Rider record time of 3:55.70, breaking a mark held since 2006 by Brandon Modrov (3:59.75).

"Drew had an exceptional day," said Fletcher.  "He was also on the 800 free relay that set a Rider record as well.  For a freshman to perform in this high pressure situation, he has responded well to that challenge.  He's put up lifetime bests in almost every meet and he is going to be a formidable competitor in the years to come."

The 800 free relay of Peterson, Pedersen, Newhouse and Funk won with a Rider record time of 6:46.17, besting the mark from 2011 that was held by Ryan Nelthropp, Newhouse, Funk, Molloy, set in 2011 and the men's 200 medley relay of Funk, Hensen, Pederson, and DeLillo won with a time of 1:31.86.

Freshman Brett Pedersen (Sewell/St. Augustine Prep) finished second in the 200 free (1:40.56), junior Johnny Funk (Las Vegas, Nev./Southeast Career & Tech. Academy) was third in the 400 IM (4:00.50), sophomore Sean Newhouse (Katy, Texas/Morton Ranch) placed third in the 200 free (1:41.97) and junior Julien Hensen (Delafield, Wis./Kettle Moraine) finished third in the 100 breast (56.69).

For the Rider women, junior Kelly O'Connor (Beverly, Mass./Beverly) won the 400 IM (4:28.51), junior Addie Oswald (Henderson, Nev./Green Valley) won the 200 free (1:50.28), freshman Rachel Brooker (Stevens, Pa./Cocalico) placed second in the 100 fly (56.82) and sophomore Danielle Warwick (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales Academy) was fourth in the 100 back (58.66) and seventh in the 200 free (1:56.45).

"Kelly (O'Connor) and Addie (Oswald) getting MAAC championships was great," Fletcher said.  "They raced well and their effort was rewarded."

Also for the Bronc men on Friday, junior Brian Molloy (Toms River/Toms River HS East) tied for fourth in the 200 free (1:43.04), graduate student Mike Tubb (Swedesboro/St. Augustine Prep) came in fifth in the 100 breast (57.47), freshman Shane Tubb (Swedesboro/St. Augustine Prep) finished fifth in the 100 fly (51.11) and sophomore Inaki Campos-Goenaga (Mexico City, Mexico/Bolles School) was sixth in the 100 back (52.68) while placing 14th in the 100 fly (52.80).

Also for the Bronc women, senior Kelly Fleagle (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) came in fifth in the 400 IM (4:34.67), freshman Morgan Kandrac (Hamilton/Notre Dame) finished fifth in the 100 breast (1:06.49), senior Kori Kraus (Mays Landing/St. Joseph's) placed fifth in the 100 back (58.75) and sophomore Melanie Leonhard (Piscataway) was fifth in the 1000 free (10:21.56).

Junior Kyle Grosman (Green Pond/Morris Knolls) placed sixth in the 100 fly (51.34) and seventh the 100 breast (58.96), freshman Zach DeLillo (Reading, Pa./Wilson) came in eighth in the 100 fly (51.94), junior Jeremy Chaudet (Branchburg/Somerville) finished 11th in the 100 breast (58.67), junior Daniel Brady (Turnersville/Gloucester Catholic) placed 12th in the 200 free (1:45.44), sophomore Timothy Rappold (Niskayuna/Niskayuna) was 12th in the 400 IM (4:13.93), freshman Jesse Miara (Thiells, N.Y./Clarkstown North) was 13th in the 1000 free (9:47.87) and senior Len Paccione (Turnersville/Gloucester Catholic) finished 14th the 1000 free (9:50.34).

Freshman Taylor Byerly (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) was seventh in the 100 fly (58.38), freshman Carlee Oswald (Henderson, Nev./Green Valley) placed seventh in the 1000 free (10:25.11), freshman Gess Charniga (Kendall Park/South Brunswick) finished eighth in the 100 breast (1:07.42) and junior Stephanie Anderer (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown HS East) came in ninth in the 200 free (1:55.64).

Junior Carly Misiewicz (Vineland/Sacred Heart) was 10th in the 200 free (1:56.07), freshman Heather Good (Hillsborough) was 10th in the 100 breast (1:07.59), sophomore Megan Mullaney (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville) came in 13th in the 400 IM (4:43.07) and 13th in the 1000 free (10:42.10) while senior Bridgid Hennessy (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) placed 15th in the 1000 free (10:56.87).

"Our senior women have competed very well and provided excellent leadership," Fletcher said.  "Kori (Kraus) with her effort, Kelly (Fleagle) a lifetime best in the 400 IM and Bridgid (Hennessy), a career-best in the 1000 free; their focus and attitude have been exceptional and they have done a tremendous job."

The women's 800 free relay of C. Oswald, Brooker, O'Connor and A. Oswald was second with a time of 7:40.26 and the women's 200 medley relay of Kraus, Charniga, Byerly and Brooker finished fourth with a time of 1:47.20.

Both the Rider men's and women's teams have placed runner-up at MAACs the past two seasons.  The Bronc men last won the MAAC title in 2004 with the Rider women last winning the team title in 2009.

-RU-

Scores after Day Two:

Men                                          Women
1. Rider            533.50               1. Marist           541.50
2. Marist           419                   2. Rider             448.50
3. Canisius        410                   3. Loyola          348
4. Loyola          374                    4. Iona              256
5. Fairfield         218                   5. Fairfield         223
6. Iona              209                   6. Canisius        222.50
7. Saint Peter's  205                   7. Siena            185.50
8. Niagara         184                   8. Niagara          166
9. Manhattan     149.50               9. Saint Peter's  149
                                                10. Manhattan    57