FAIRFIELD, CT – The Iona men's swimming and diving team continued MAAC play with a record-setting performance against Fairfield. The Gaels outlasted the Stags 168-124.
The Gaels started the night off on a high note, as they took first place in the 200 meter medley relay. The quartet of freshman Keegan Boisson-Yates, senior Ryan Bacci, senior Tyler Elfert, and freshman Matthew Rothman finished ahead of the competition, placing first with a time of 1:52.07. Also, the squad of senior Mark Wallace, freshman Joseph Shields, freshman Liam Oberlander, and sophomore Tommy Keefe placed third with a time of 1:55.00.
Iona swept the 200 meter freestyle event, as well as the 100 meter backstroke. Freshman Collin Purrman placed first with a time of 1:59.15. Senior Justin Grigull touched second with a time of 2:00.17, and sophomore Scott Martin trailed behind, finishing third with a time of 2:01.02.
In the 100 meter backstroke, Boisson-Yates touched first with a time of 59.97, shattering the Iona record of 1:05.51, previously set by Joe Przekota in 2006. Wallace finished second with a time of 1:03.01 and sophomore Brandon Hadhazy placed third, posting a time of 1:05.55.
The 100 meter breaststroke saw Bacci touch first with a time of 1:11.36. Freshman Joseph Shields finished third with a time of 1:13.91.
In the 200 meter butterfly Elfert placed second with a time of 2:15.94. Sophomore Daniel McGovern placed third with a time of 2:19.33.
The Gaels placed first in the next three swimming events. In the 50 meter freestyle, Grigull touched first with a time of 24.93. Keefe placed third in the event, finishing with a time of 25.69.
In the 100 meter freestyle, Elfert touched first with a time of 55.09, as Boisson-Yates finished just behind in second, coming in with a time of 55.31.
Purrman touched first in the 200 meter backstroke, posting a time of 2:16.22. Freshman Jay Lessard touched second in the event with a time of 2:20.92.
Grigull finished his afternoon on top, as he placed first in the 400 meter freestyle with a tie of 4:12.66. His time broke Cameron Hudson's 2012 record of 4:13.37.
Also for the Gaels, freshman Bryan Veals placed third in the 800 meter freestyle with a time of 9:19.46. Shields finished third in the 200 meter breaststroke, posting a time of 2:42.32.
In the 10 meter butterfly, Boisson-Yates placed second with a time of 1:00.10, breaking a record of 1:01.89 previously held by Bill Walsh in 2006. Martin also broke Walsh's record, completing the event in 1:01.86.
The 200 meter IM saw Purrman finish second in 2:15.38. Senior Nick Kotonias touched in third with a time of 2:21.85.
Iona finished the night strong, sweeping the 200 meter freestyle relay. The tandem of Elfert, Rothman, Keefe, and Grigull finished with a time of 1:39.24, breaking their own previous record of 1:44.27. Senior Lee Stiles, Hadhazy, Veals, and Martin placed second with a time of 1:41.95. In third, Wallace, Oberlander, sophomore Rafael Duran, and junior Connor Reid touched with a time of 1:44.96.
The Gaels will next head up north to Buffalo, NY for the 2014 MAAC Championships beginning Feb. 13.
