RESULTS
NEW ROCHELLE, NY – In one of the season's most highly anticipated meets Bryant University and Iona College competed in a spirited and unusual meet at the Hynes Center on Saturday afternoon.
The Iona men's swimming & diving program, behind eight individual victories and a win in the final relay race, came from behind to tie the visiting Bulldogs, 144-144. The two teams will settle who is superior in February at the MAAC Swimming & Diving Championships.
The Gaels women's program fell to Bryant, 215-79.
The men's meet featured two individual race ties.  The first time came for the top spot in the 100-yard backstroke where Iona's sophomore Matthew Bosse and Bryant's Colin Curtin touched at 53.40. It was the season's best performance thus far for Bosse.
The 50-yard freestyle saw Gael sophomore James Barnola and Bryant's Zachary Hannon touch together at 22.28 for second place.
Iona freshman Matthew Anderson grabbed a pair of wins in the 1000-free and 500-free at 9:48.29 and 4:48.08, respectively. Bosse also picked up a win in the 200-backstroke at 1:56.52. Junior Collin Purrman claimed wins in both the 100 and 200-butterfly races at 53.51 and 1:58.90, respectively.
In one of the most anticipated races of the day, junior co-captain Christian Foti, held on to for a crucial win in the 200-Free. Foti led from start-to-finish touching at 1:43.96 besting Bryant's runner-up effort of 1:44.20. Junior Zach Holbrook picked up the final win for the Gaels in the 50-Free at 22.04.
The Gaels 200-Free Relay quartet of Holbrook, junior Kyle Desrosiers, Barnola and Foti touched at 1:27.43, with Bryant .38 behind.
The Iona women battled in every race, eventually claiming victory in the final two races. Junior Elizabeth Kaczmarek claimed the 200-Individual Medley at 2:13.16. The quartet of sophomore Jessica Schmidt, freshmen Alyssa Chain, Simone Sturrup and senior Kathryn Nevin grabbed the final 200-Free Relay at 1:39.65, four-tenths ahead of Bryant.
Chain claimed a pair of second place finishes in the 50-Free at 24.61 and 100-Butterfly at 1:00.59.
Sophomore Maria DiBella took second in the 200-Back at 2:13.67 and third in the 100-Back at 1:02.28.
Nevin (100-Breast at 1:113.0), Schmidt (200-Back at 2:14.05) and Sturrup (50-Free at 25.38) all posted third place efforts.
"Both myself and Coach Anthony Bruno were very pleased with the efforts and enthusiasm today as well as the 43 season best times. We are definitely moving in the right direction, commented Coach Nick Cavataro.
The Gaels next face Monmouth University in Long Branch, New Jersey and host Providence College on back-to-back days on November 11 and 12.
