NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College men's swimming and diving team fell in its 2010 opener Tuesday evening at the Hynes Athletics Center Pool. Visiting Seton Hall was able to top the Gaels by the score of 180-92.
In the opening event of the 200 yd medley relay, Seton Hall took the top two spots. The Gaels' relay of freshman Mark Wallace, sophomore Chris Yacobacci, senior Patrick O'Reilly and senior Graham Weir finished third with a time of 1:41.11. The team of freshmen Ralph Porazzo, Ryan Bacci, Patrick Garvey and sophomore Jay Wegimont was fifth with a time of 1:45.13.
The Pirates commanded the first individual event, the 100 yd free, taking the top three spots. Freshman Nick Kotonias was fourth for the Gaels with a time of 10:11.10. Sophomore Zachary Benoit (10:43.24) and senior Michael O'Connor (11:26.58) took fifth and sixth in the event.
Freshman Justin Grigull made an impact in his first race, winning the 200 yd free with a time of 1:45.93. Yacobacci was fourth with a time of 1:49.76. Freshman Denis O'Connor was sixth with a time of 2:03.62.
Porazzo took third in the 100 yd backstroke for the Gaels, finishing with a time of 55.15. Wallace (56.06) and freshman Curtis Cello (58.92) took fourth and sixth in the event.
Iona once again found themselves out of the top three of the 100 yd breaststroke as Garvey, freshman Chris Giovine and Bacci took fourth through sixth in the event for the Maroon & Gold.
In the 200 yd fly, O'Reilly was fourth for the Gaels, touching the wall with a time of 2:08.28. Wegimont was right behind him with a time of 2:08.67.
Grigull took a second place finish in the 50 yd free, clocking in with a time of 22.76. Weir was fifth for the Gaels with a time of 23.15.
Porazzo was second for the Gaels in the 200 yd backstroke, finishing with a time of 2:01.97. Sophomore Marty Callinan was fifth in the event with a time of 2:15.72.
Yacobacci was second in the 200 yd breaststroke with a time of 2:11.83. Giovine was fourth with a time of 2:19.67 while Bacci was sixth with a time of 2:28.03.
Kotonias was the top Iona finisher in the 500 yd free, finishing fourth with a time of 5:05.58. Benoit was fifth with a time of 5:16.82 while D. O'Connor was sixth with a time of 5:38.98.
O'Reilly finished fourth for the Gaels in the 100 yd fly with a time of 57.31. Sophomore Michael Wu was fifth with a time of 58.30 and junior Raymond Joyal was sixth with a time of 59.56.
The Gaels return to the Hynes Athletics Center Pool Friday when they host MAAC rival Manhattan. Races are scheduled to begin at 6:00 pm.
