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Iona University Athletics

Iona Swim Senior Day

Women's Swimming & Diving Ionagaels.com

Iona Swim Drop A Pair TO Fairfield At Home On Senior Day

In a long day sparked with emotion, thrills and tears, The Iona University Swimming and Diving left Hynes with a pair of losses to the visiting Fairfield University Stags.
 
The Iona men went back and forth before falling short in the last two individual events to fall, 156-144 to go to 5-3 on the year. The Iona women, despite a school record effort in the 1,000-yard Freestyle were defeated 216-82, to move to 5-4 on the season.
 
The afternoon started off with six Iona seniors being introduced with video and music tributes as they swam their last race at Hynes, including co-captains Ashley Benkert and Molly Finn on the women's and Chase Bateman and Brian Baldwin on the men's roster. Seniors Hannah Forbes and Nia Thomas were also recognized.
 
The first race was the Women's 200-yard Medley Relay that saw Fairfield edge the quartet of Raegan O'Brien (26.99), Juila Moser (29.08), Benkert (25.28) and Megan Josephs (23.54) by 1.49 seconds to win at 1:43.40.
 
The Iona team of Kieran Egan (22.27), Matthew Loftus (24.78), Brian Baldwin (22.95) and Nick Patino (20.53) posted a 1:31.96 time to win by 1.43 seconds.
 
The 1000-yard Freestyle saw Fairfield's distance ace Erin Hoyland post a 10:11.54 time for the win as she pulled away from a furious charge by Iona Junior Katherin Sarnes who dropped 5.98 from her previous career best to clock 10:21.61 for silver, breaking the 2017 school record of 10:22.75 held by Maria DiBella. Sarnes was followed by Sophomore Anabel Huffstutler who went a season best of 10:27.89 for third place.
 
The lone women's win on the say came from graduate student Megan Josephs who touched first in the 200-Free at 1:53.03. Josephs also took silver in the 100-Free at 52.40, with classmate Julia Moser taking silver in the 100-Breaststroke at 1:04.24; Freshmen O'Brien placed second in the 200-Back at 2:04.57.
 
The Iona men claimed eight of the 14 individual events on the day, with Graduate Student and defending MAAC MVP Michael Faughnan closing out his Hynes race career with wins in the 200-Free (1:38.16); 200-Back (1:48.61) and 500-Free (4:34.03). Sophomore Kieran Egan touched first in the 100-back with a career best of 48.15 and 100-Free at 44.89.
 
Senior Matthew Loftus took gold in the 100-Breast at 56.47; Sophomore Nick Patino won the 50-Free at 21.20, with Freshmen Joel Picard taking the 3-Meter Springboard event at 221.90-points.
 
The 400-yard Freestyle Relays closed out the meet in exciting style as the Fairfield women touched 2.02 seconds ahead of the Iona team of Josephs (53.22), Benkert (53.56), Mary Grace Waring (53.41) and Moser (53.23) for a final time of 3:33.42.
 
The Iona men jumped out to an early lead with Egan's 45.62 leg, followed by second swimmer Nate Wales at 45.18; who handed off Liam Pyatt at 46.41 as Fairfield raced to 1.38 second lead at the 300-yard mark; however, Faughnan chased down the Fairfield anchor swimmer, Tim Regan, with a 43.60 leg to win 3:00.81 to 3:01.46.
 
"We were very aggressive today; but came up short" commented Coach Nick Cavataro. "Fairfield had a great meet with solid performances up and down their line-up. We were solid too, but in key spots they got to the wall first and when you back up a win with second or third points, we couldn't close the point gap."
 
Iona returns to action next Saturday as they travel to Manhattan University for a 1:00pm meet in Riverdale to close out the season.
 
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Players Mentioned

Molly Finn

Molly Finn

Back/Free
5' 7"
Senior
Anabel Huffstutler

Anabel Huffstutler

Distance
5' 8"
Sophomore
Megan Josephs

Megan Josephs

Sprint
5' 8"
Graduate Student
Ashley Benkert

Ashley Benkert

Fly
5' 6"
Senior
Hannah Forbes

Hannah Forbes

Distance
5' 7"
Senior
Julia Moser

Julia Moser

Breast
5' 7"
Graduate Student
Brian Baldwin

Brian Baldwin

Fly / Back
6' 2"
Senior
Chase Bateman

Chase Bateman

IM
6' 4"
Senior
Kieran Egan

Kieran Egan

Back / Free
6' 1"
Sophomore
Michael Faughnan

Michael Faughnan

Middle Free
6' 6"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Molly Finn

Molly Finn

5' 7"
Senior
Back/Free
Anabel Huffstutler

Anabel Huffstutler

5' 8"
Sophomore
Distance
Megan Josephs

Megan Josephs

5' 8"
Graduate Student
Sprint
Ashley Benkert

Ashley Benkert

5' 6"
Senior
Fly
Hannah Forbes

Hannah Forbes

5' 7"
Senior
Distance
Julia Moser

Julia Moser

5' 7"
Graduate Student
Breast
Brian Baldwin

Brian Baldwin

6' 2"
Senior
Fly / Back
Chase Bateman

Chase Bateman

6' 4"
Senior
IM
Kieran Egan

Kieran Egan

6' 1"
Sophomore
Back / Free
Michael Faughnan

Michael Faughnan

6' 6"
Graduate Student
Middle Free