NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Hynes Center exploded with cheers as the Iona University men's and women's swimming and diving team came storming back to win the last event of the day from St. Francis College in the season opener for both teams.

Meet Summary

The Iona women's quartet of Megan Josephs (54.08), Erin Mckinney (55.66), Ashley Benkert (54.39) and Isabella Nicholson (54.46) combined to win by 2.37 seconds at 3:38.59.
 
The Iona men's foursome of Blake Alford (48.69), Liam Pyatt (49.01), David Son (48.33) and Michael Faughnan (45.25) posted a 3.11.89 clocking to win by .61 over SFC.
 
Individually on the women's side the Iona women were led by Senior Tri-Captain Isabella Nicholson who took a pair of golds, winning the 100-yard Freestyle (52.72) and the 200-yard Freestyle (1:55.35) and taking second in the 200-yard Individual Medley (2:11.94). Freshman Victoria Novinskiy claimed wins in both the 100 and 200-yard Backstroke with respective times of 59.48 and 2:08.28. Other women winning events included Ashley Benkert in the 100-Butterfly (58.23); Josephs in the 50-Freestyle (24.91).
 
The men had five members claim a combined eight individual wins. Junior Tri-Captain Michael Faughnan claimed the 500-Freestyle and 1000-Freestyle and sandwiched the 100-Backstroke with times of 4:35.95, 9:35.19 and 51.41, respectively. Freshman diver Dylan Riccio claimed wins on both the 1 and 3-Meter springboards with respective scores of 209.00 and 204.30. The wins were the first by an Iona diver in 5 years as Riccio thrilled the crowd with his board work.
 
Others taking individual events included Blake Alford in the 50-free (22.55); Lucas Haddad in the 200-Breast (2:18.42) and Daniel Hadary in the 200-Back at 1:57.10.

Coaches' COMMENTS

"We are pleased with the wins today, head coach Nick Cavataro said. "however, more exciting were the contributions up and down the line-up from our new members and returners. We demonstrated a lot of fight and gained some valuable experience today."

Up Next

The Gaels are right back in action tomorrow in Worcester, Mass to take on Holy Cross at 11 am. 

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