The Iona University men and women’s swimming and diving teams completed action at the 2024 College Swim Coaches Association of America National Invitational Championship from March 14-16.
It was Iona’s first swim meet in about a month, after middle-of-the-road finishes at the 2024 MAAC Championships in mid-February.
This year’s edition of the CSCAA took place at the Florida Aquatic Swimming and Training Center in Ocala, Fla., where over 50 Division I teams competed. Iona brought forth 13 of their own players, including 2024’s MAAC Outstanding Swimmer, Michael Faughnan.
During the 200-yard freestyle relay, Faughnan – who posted a 20.37 time – led the pack of Nate Wales, Nicholas Patino and Kieran Egan to a 14th-place finish.
Egan posted a solid performance individually in the 50-back, ending up in 18th.
Sophomore Andrew Diano put up a career-best number in the 500-yard free at 4:45.88, while senior Lucas Haddad broke his own personal record in the 100-free with a 47.53 time.
At the end of Day 1, the Gaels stood in 20th with 53.5 points, nearly 200 scores behind Texas Christian University and Queens University of Charlotte, who were tied for first.
Faughnan opened Day 2 during the men’s 200-yard freestyle championship, at 1:35.91. The University of California at San Diego’s Andrija Petkovic’s time of 1:35.05 was just enough to defeat Faughnan and runner-up Daniel Meszaros from Queens University.
Iona’s Noah Giunta, Chase Bateman, Matthew Woyksnar and Diano registered a 19th-place effort, owning a 6:55.01 time.
The Maroon and Gold maintained their spot in the 20th on Day 2, now boasting a score of 106.5.
Faughnan kept up his strong play from the two previous outings and bolted out of the gate on Day 3 with a strong 400-yard freestyle relay swim. He also recorded a third-place effort in the 200-yard backstroke and was only .34 seconds off his MAAC gold medal time of 1:43.61. Egan finished 18th in this event.
Faughnan, Wales, Egan and senior Liam Pyatt combined for 3:00.61 in the 400-yard freestyle, two seconds behind their gold medal score in February’s MAAC Championships.
Overall, the men’s squad finished in 18th place, which is a program record.
From the women’s team, competitor Ashley Benkert achieved two career-best times, which came in the 100 and 200-yard butterfly events.
Select swimmers now have a chance to qualify for the June USA Olympic Selection Meet as the Florida Aquatic Swimming and Training Center’s pool will be converted to an Olympic course of 50 meters.
