Fairfield vs Iona
- January 20, 2024
- Fairfield, Conn.
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results
Courtesy: Fairfield Athletics
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams swept Iona University in the final dual meet of the season. The women’s team posted a 221-74 decision while the men’s team secured a 186-112 result against the Gaels.
Seven Fairfield student-athletes picked up a pair of wins each including a record-setting performance by diver Alexis Gaulin as the senior broke her own record for the 1 meter dive with 273.60 points and established a new standard in the 3 meter dive with 290.33 points. Dillon O’Connor also swept the diving events on the men’s side with 271.20 points in the 1 meter dive and 281.18 points in the 3 meter dive.
Ed Hunt (200 IM, 200 Fly), Erin Hoyland (800 and 400 Free), Tone Sandsjo (200 & 100 Breaststroke), Nora Segurola-Larrinaga (100 Free, 100 Back), and Erini Pappas (200 Back, 200 Fly) also touched the wall first in two different events.
Fairfield also had additional winners on the afternoon, beginning with Joseph Stewart’s top spot in the 800 free (8:41.36). Hans Lim secured a first-place swim in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.42), while Serafina Viola (27.34) and Patrick Gill (24.06) combined for a sweep of the 50 free events. Jeffrey Vlass picked up a victory in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:25.27 and Tim Regan also took the top spot in the 100 fly with a time of 58.11.
The women’s team swept the top three places in three events including the 100 back (Segurola-Larrinaga, Abbie DiGregorio, and Shauna Harney). Segurola-Larrinaga, Alison Sposili, and Erin Goodling earned first, second, and third respectively in both the 100 and 200 breaststrokes. Gaulin, Lia Oppenheim, and Lillian Tonole swept the 3-meter dive and came back to take the 1 meter dive with Gaulin, Tonole, and Oppenheim comprising the first three places.
Fairfield will begin preparation for the 2024 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships as the Stags will head to Geneva, Ohio for their next competition. The teams will compete for the MAAC title from February 14 through February 17.
Double Winners vs. Iona
Ed Hunt (200 IM – 2:21.54); (200 Fly – 2 :06.65)
Erin Hoyland (800 Free – 9:14.74); (400 Free – 4:36.24)
Tone Sandsjo (200 Breaststroke – 2:40.14); (100 Breaststroke – 1:11.74)
Nora Segurola-Larrinaga (100 Free – 59.17); (100 Back – 1:01.80)
Erini Pappas – (200 Back – 2:21.37); (200 Fly – 2:24.37)
Alexis Gaulin (1 meter dive – 273.60); (3 meter dive – 290.33)
Dillon O’Connor (1 meter dive – 271.20); (3 meter dive – 281.18)
Courtesy: Iona Athletics
The Iona University Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Team returned to action today for the first time since the December 1-3 ECAC Championship meet and came away with a pair of losses on the road at Fairfield University.
The defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champions Fairfield Women’s team splashed to a big win on their Senior Day taking a 221-74 win. The Fairfield Men took the win by a score of 186-112.
For the Iona Women, the lone first place came from Graduate Student Isabella Nicholson, who took the 200-Meter Freestyle event at 2:10.21. Fellow Graduate student, Meghan Josephs, Junior Ashley Benkert and Nicholson claimed silver medal efforts in the 100-M-Free, 100-Meter Butterfly and the 50-Meter Freestyle respectively.
The Iona Men saw Senior co-captain Michael Faughnan continue his strong season, posting wins in the 100, 200 and 400-Meter Freestyles with respective times of 50.46, 1:51.24 and 4:04.42. The 100 and 200-Meter times were both Fairfield University pool and Iona Short Course Meters pool records. Freshman Kieran Egan claimed a pair of golds, taking both the 100 and 200-Meter Backstroke races with respective times of 56.40 and 2:07.08. The 100-Meter time tied the Fairfield pool record set two seasons ago by Monmouth MAAC MVP, Callan Smith.
“We definitely were fatigued and a bit rusty in spots today coming out of the racing layoff and heavy training trip in spots,” noted Coach Nick Cavataro. “We have a pair of two home meets coming up and feel confident we will be better.”
Iona returns to action on Wednesday (Jan. 24) when they host Fordham and then again on Friday, Jan. 27 for Senior Day and season finale dual meet vs MAAC rival, Manhattan.
