NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Iona College swimming and diving team opened its 2014 home slate Saturday morning at the Hynes Athletics Center. In men’s action, the Gaels defeated St. Francis Brooklyn 155-79. On the women’s side, the Gaels defeated St. Francis 142-70 and Sacred Heart 135-73, but were outscored by Wagner 121-80.
“I felt today was a strong step forward with three meets coming up against a strong Bryant squad, against West Point and Columbia, and then Manhattan,” said head coach Nick Cavataro.
“We had some strong efforts, particulary Dylan Mechanic’s 200 fly win, his best in season time ever,” said Cavataro. “Also nice to see the efforts of juniors Melissa Dorsch and Leigh Musselman, who returned to action after being injured.”
In the opening event, the 400 medley relay, the men’s team took second and third, with the foursome of Dave Ciavarelli, Christopher Vadala, Collin Purrman and Kyle Desrosiers up front with a time of 3:41.92. The women’s group of Laura Mongillo, Mary Ellen Mangione, Alexandra DiBiase and Natalie Bowman finished second with a time of 4:06.57.
Christian Foti picked up the first victory of the day for the Gaels, with a first place finish in the 1000 free. Foti touched with a time of 10:13.12. Scott Martin (10:24.66) was just behind in second while Vadala (11:10.85) took fourth. In the women’s 1000 free, Kaitlyn Mahon (10:59.61) was fourth.
In the 200 free, Bowman finished second with a time of 1:59.95, while Mongillo was fifth (2:04.14). In the men’s 200 free, Keegan Boisson-Yates took first with a time of 1:49.72, with Derosiers in second with a pace of 1:52.20.
Zack Holbrook took first in the 50 free for Iona with a time of 22.34, with Tommy Keefe in second with a time of 22.64. In the women’s event, Katie Nevin placed fifth with a time of 25.57.
In the 200 IM, Purrman took first with a time of 2:01.48, with Sam Braziel in second (2:06.19) and Bryan Veals fourth (2:09.33). Mangione was third in the women’s event with a time of 2:15.84, with Elizabeth Kaczmarek in fourth (2:15.86).
Mechanic took first in the 200 fly with a time of 1:59.67, with Purrman second (1:59.71) and Martin third (2:04.52). Dibiase was the women’s top finisher in the event with a time of 2:13.32.
Bowman was the top finisher in the 100 free with a time of 55.75. In the men’s event, Holbrook took second (48.79) with Keefe in fourth (51.05).
Boisson-Yates claimed first in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:01.08. Brandon Hadhazy was second, touching the wall with a time of 2:07.86. Musselman was fourth in the women’s race with a time of 2:15.92, with Mongillo in fifth (2:16.54).
Foti took first in the 500 free (4:57.93) with Derosiers (5:08.52) second and Veals (5:18.68) third. Kaczmarek took second in the women’s event with a time of 5:22.01, with Mahon in fourth (5:28.93).
Braziel took first in the 200 breast with a time of 2:17.08, while Vadala took second, touching the wall in 2:17.88. Mangione finished first on the women’s side with a time of 2:30.41.
The quartet of Boisson-Yes, Foti, Keefe and Holbrook took first in the 400 free relay with a time of 3:18.61. The women’s squad of Kaczmarek, Mahon, Dibiase and Nevin was second in their heat with a time of 3:47.69.
In diving, Charles Blaschinski was second in both the one-meter (185.70 points) and three-meter (179.55) events. Alicia Raffle tallied 137.10 points in the one-meter diving event.
Iona hosts Bryant next Saturday in its league opener beginning at 11:00 am.