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Iona University Athletics

Geraldo Rodriguez

Women's Swimming & Diving 12/1/2023 11:28:00 PM

Iona Swimming & Diving Teams Make a Big Splash at Day One of ECAC's

The Iona University Swimming and Diving Teams splashed back into action in a big way Friday as the hit the water for the first time since November 3, with the first of 3 days of competition at the ECAC Winter Championship Meet at the Nassau County Aquatic Complex in East Meadow, New York.

The meet features three full days of trials and finals competition in the NCAA Championship format. With 14 women's teams and 12 men's in the meet, Iona stands fourth on the men's and seventh on the women's standings after 12 events. On the men's side NJIT is the early leader with 548-points, with Monmouth (388), LIU (335) ahead of the Iona men at 306-points. MAAC rivals Mount Saint Mary's (266) and Marist (244) round out the top six.

The Iona women with 182-points, find themselves behind the defending champion Columbia University at 698; Stony Brook, 417; LIU, 290; Siena, 279; Monmouth, 236; Mount Saint Mary's at 226.

Leading the way for the Gaels on the men's side was Senior Michael Faughnan, who dominated the field in the men's 500-yard Free lowering the 2022 meet record of 4:28.53 to 4:21.29, winning by over 7 seconds. The time was also a new Iona record and an NCAA Championship B qualifying time. Other men scoring in the 500-Free included Matthew Woyksnar who was ninth at 4:39.81; Andrew Diano, was fifteenth at 4:47.41. Robert Heim, who was 22nd at 4:50.41. James Cash, who was 24th at 4:58.04.

The women's 500 had freshmen Anabel Huffstutler went 5:10.56 for fourteenth; Kate Kennedy was twentieth at 5:09.43; and Tristan Urso was twenty fourth at 5:16.05.

The Men's 200-Individual Medley has freshmen Noah Gionta take seventh at 1:55,76; Brian Baldwin placed eighteenth at 1:55.62, with Matt Loftus twenty first at 1:57.37. The women's race had Ashley Benkert and Brennyn Veit place eighteenth and twenty-third respectively at 2:11.61 and 2:13.38.
The 50-yard Freestyle had Kieran Egan (20.85), Nate Wales (21.21) and Mikel Palaj (21.25), Nick Patino (21.56) placing tenth, nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-third.

The Women's 50-Free had Isabella Nicholson (24.09); Megan Josephs (24.32), and Ashley Benkert (24.97), placed eleventh, twelfth and twentieth respectively.

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Players Mentioned

Brian Baldwin: Fly/Back; 6' 2"; Junior

James Cash: Sprint Free; 6' 1"; Sophomore

Andrew Diano: Middle Free; 6' 2"; Sophomore

Michael Faughnan: Middle Free; 6' 6"; Senior

Robert Heim: Middle Free; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Mikel Palaj: Fly; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Matthew Woyksnar: Distance Free; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Ashley Benkert: Fly; 5' 6"; Junior

Megan Josephs: Breast/Sprint; 5' 8"; Senior

Isabella Nicholson: Mid-Distance; 5' 11"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Brian Baldwin
: 6' 2"; Junior
: Fly/Back

James Cash
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: Sprint Free

Andrew Diano
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: Middle Free

Michael Faughnan
: 6' 6"; Senior
: Middle Free

Robert Heim
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: Middle Free

Mikel Palaj
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: Fly

Matthew Woyksnar
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: Distance Free

Ashley Benkert
: 5' 6"; Junior
: Fly

Megan Josephs
: 5' 8"; Senior
: Breast/Sprint

Isabella Nicholson
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student
: Mid-Distance