The Iona University Swimming and Diving Team took to the Hynes Pool for their final home meet of the semester, hosting Providence College and came away with a pair of wins and over two dozen season best times and one school record.
 
The Iona men increased their record to 4-1, cruising to a 180-107 victory, with the Iona women gained their second win of the season at 170-117, to move to 2-4.
 
"Our group really believes that they swim their best in Hynes and came out with a purpose today and the goal of going season best race times in every race and we did that," commented Head Coach Nick Cavataro.
 
The meet which was promoted by the Iona SAAC and the team as their "Men's Prostate and Health Awareness" event, had a capacity crowed with a large contingent of Friar fans as well.
 
The Friars got off to a big start taking 3 of the 4 diving events, with Sophomore Dylan Riccio coming back after a loss in the 1-Meter event, do win easily on the 3-Meter board.
 
The Iona women's 200-Medlley relay team of Ela Goucher, Megan Josephs, Ashley Benkert and Isabella Nicholson touched out Providence by 1.2 seconds to win with a season best of 1:48.28. The Iona men came up next with Freshmen Kieran Egan leading off with a school record split of 23.19 in the 50-Back, followed by Matthew Loftus, Noah Giunta and Nick Patino touching 2.89 ahead of PC at 1:32.23.
 
Iona then went on to roll of four wins in a row with Graduate Student Tristan Urso taking first by 14 seconds at 10:32.30; Michael Faughnan, a senior, went a season best to win at 9:36.26. Isabella Nicholson, a graduate student, and Egan won the 200-Freestyle races with respective season best times of 1:54.37 and 1:39.62.
 
The two teams traded wins in the 100-Backstroke and Breaststroke events, with Faughnan taking the Men's back race at 48.52 and Brennyn Veit taking the Breaststroke at 1:06.46.
 
Junior Ashley Benkert and Freshmen Noah Giunta, won the 200-yard Butterfly events at 2:08.30 and 1:52.20, respectively. Nicholson took the top spot in the 50-Free at 24.03 as did Josephs in the 100-Freestyle at 52.19.
 
Egan made it 3 wins on the day touching first in the 200-Back at 1:48.21. Veit gained her second win taking the 200-Breast at 2:23.91.
 
The 500-Free saw Iona take first and second in each race, with Kate Kennedy and Anabel Huffstutler posting respective times of 5:12.57 and 5:13.25. Faughnan and Matthew Woyksnar provided points in the men's race with times of 4:28.45 and 4:42.40, respectively.
 
Benkert and Giunta touched first in the 100-yard Butterfly at 56.68 and 50.47 for the wins. Veit closed out her first Iona hat trick with a 2:10.79 win in the 200-Individual medley and Giunta added his third win with a 1:55.33 clocking.
 
The Iona quarter of Nicholson, Benkert, Goucher and Josephs closed out the scoring winning by over 3 seconds in the 200-Freestyle Relay at 1:36.87. The Iona men's foursome of Faughnan, Egan, Nick Patino and Mikel Palaj came in at 1:23.71 for the win in the 200-Freestyle Relay.
 
"This was a strong day for our team, "noted Coach Cavataro. "We were right at our goal of season best times and had contributions from every swimmer on the roster. Our upper classmen with Faughnan, Loftus, Benkert, Nicholson, Urso, Josephs, swam very well and I think inspired the rest of the roster. Veit and Giunta winning three individual races for the first time in their careers, was a great effort. Egan continues to surprise us daily in practices and meets, and to post the strong 200-Free and Back time along with his relay swims, gives us great versatilty.
 
Iona travels to former MAAC member, Monmouth next Friday for a what is always a big rivalry.