The Iona College swimming and diving team finished strong at the MAAC Championships where the women took fourth with 395 points, and the men came in fifth with 305 points.

After the second day in Buffalo, four Iona records and a pool record were broken, and a NCAA qualification was made. Senior Jamie Manser was the highlight for the woman with her 100 yard breaststroke time of 1:01.51. She not only broke her own Iona record, but also beat the Erie Community College pool record, and qualified for the NCAA championships.

The other three Iona records that were set were by sophomore Justin Grigull in the 200 yard freestyle with a time of 1:39.38, junior Chris Yacobacci in the 100 yard breaststroke in at 55.69 and junior Theresa Harvey in the 200 free from a flat start in the 800 free relay with a time of 1:53.16. All three swims qualified Grigull, Yacobacci and Harvey for ECAC’s.

From the first race of the night, it was apparent the Gaels were at their season’s best. The women’s 200 Medley consisting of Manser and sophomores Maria Skeivys, Sophia Hyokyvaara and Kerri-Anne Dodenhoff, took third with a time of 1:46.59. The men’s 200 medley relay of senior Cameron Hudson, sophomores Mark Wallace and Tyler Elfert and Yacobacci also earned critical points placing fifth at 1:34.82.

Outstanding individual swims were performed throughout the meet. Junior Kara Nowakowski finished 14th in the 1000 free at 10:42.97, Skievys took 11th in the 400-IM with a time of 4:39.17, Harvey finished ninth at 58.58, senior Mackenzie Mone took fifth in the 200 Free at 1:54.46, Dodenhoff placed third in the 100 breaststroke at 1:05.21 and freshman Olivia Kroll finished ninth in the 100-backstroke with a time of 59.88.

On the men’s side great individual performances were by sophomore Nick Kotonias in the 400-IM placing ninth along with sophomore Ryan Bacci who took 14th with times of 4:10.92 and 4:17.54, Elfert took ninth place with his finish in the 100 butterfly at 51.78 and sophomores Chris Giovine and Matthew Stelnicki placed 12th and 16th respectively in the 100 breaststroke, while Wallace took 12th in the 100 backstroke.

In the last relay of the night, the men’s 800 free relay placed fourth as Yacobacci and Grigull were joined by sophomore Lee Stiles and junior Joseph Delone to finish at 6:54.73.

Overall the majority of the Gaels secured times qualifying for ECAC’s.

On the final day of the championships two more records were broken. Yacobacci took gold in the men’s 200 breaststroke at 2:00.30, qualifying for ECAC’s, while the women’s 400-free relay swam by Mone, Manser, Harvey and Dodenhoff finished with a time of 3:29.61.

The men’s 400 free relay also did well with Yacobacci, Hudson, Grigull and Bacci as they took second at 3:05.64

Memorable individual performances for the women were by Nowakowski in the 1650-free taking 10th, Skeivys who placed 12th in the 200 backstroke, Hyokyvaara in the 200 breaststroke placing 10th and Harvey and Mone in the 100 free with times that qualified them for ECAC’s. Grigull took third in the 100 free with a time of 45.95, while Kotonias placed ninth in the 200 butterfly at 1:55.54.

Head Coach Nick Cavataro is pleased with the overall performance of the team.

“The two golds by Yacobacci and one each by Grigull and Manser were the highlights for us; but I know everyone one was excited about the women’s and men’s 400-free relays taking silver and stunning the meet,” said Cavataro.

The results of the MAAC championships showcased all the time and dedication put into the season, and also foreshadows a promising next season for the Iona Gaels.