The Iona College men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams both placed first in the two-day 2021 Metro Atlantic Athletic Association Spring Invitational held on March 27 and 28 at the Erie Community College Natatorium in Buffalo, New York. 

The Gaels led the way during the invitational, with the women’s team scoring 734.5 points and the men’s team totaling 733 points in the weekend sweep.  

In the first event, the Iona Gaels women’s team finished in first place in the 400-meter Medley Relay. The team followed up the victory by placing first in the 200-meter Medley Relay and the 400-yard Freestyle Relay as well.  

The men’s team was also victorious in the 400-meter and 200-meter Medley Relays, as well as the 400-meter Freestyle Relay.  

Freshman Michael Faughnan stood out for the men’s team throughout the meet, winning 200, 500 and 1000-yard freestyle events. He also helped the men’s relay team notch their victory in the freestyle relay.  

Senior Conor Mullin also had a strong performance for the Gaels at the meet, finishing first in both the 100-yard and 200-yard butterfly, as well as being a part of the winning men’s relays. 

Senior Kate Flynn took home first place in both the 50 and 100-yard freestyle events for the women, while sophomore Julia Moser won the 100-yard backstroke.  

Due to these contributions the Gaels were able to cruise to a meet victory, with the men’s team finishing ahead of second-place Fairfield by 151.5 points, and the women’s team leading Canisius by 209.5 points. 

The meet included seven teams from the MAAC conference competing in a staggered format at multiple locations, with a total of 38 events.  

The invitational was the first look for MAAC teams at the changes made to swim and dive competition by the NCAA to align with COVID-19 protocols. These changes include adaptions to relay events; for example, the need for an empty lane between swimmers.  

The cancellation of the MAAC Swimming and Diving Championship birthed the idea for the Spring Invitational, essentially serving as the determining meet for the top team in the conference.