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Iona University Athletics

MAAC SAOTY

Men's Swimming & Diving Garrett Murray / Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

Michael Faughnan Named 2024-2025 MAAC Student Athlete of the Year

Faughnan becomes the fourth Gael in the last 25 years to go back-to-back.

EDISON, NJ - Iona University men's swimming and diving standout Michael Faughnan has been named the 2024-25 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Student-Athlete of the Year recipient. Michael Faughnan joins Iona greats, Chartt Miller, Mitch Goose, and Richard Kiplagat to become back-to-back student athletes of the year. 

"Over my 45 years at Iona, Michael stands out as one of the hardest-working student-athletes I've had the privilege to coach. He has always been driven—not only to better himself as a swimmer but to grow as a person. Michael is the ultimate team player, always putting the needs of the team first and consistently pushing his teammates to reach their full potential. No one is more deserving of this award. He embodies the true spirit of what it means to be a Gael." Head coach Nick Cavataro said. 

"Michael Faughnan continues to raise the standard for what it means to be a student-athlete at Iona University," said Director of Athletics Matthew Glovaski. "To earn MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year honors for a second straight season speaks volumes about his relentless drive, his excellence in the classroom, and his leadership in the pool. We couldn't be prouder of Michael and the example he set for our entire department."

Michael played a key role in leading Iona to a 13th-place national finish at the 2025 NIC, a 4th-place team result at the 2025 MAAC Championships, and a 1st-place victory at the Winter 2024 ECAC Championships. In the 2024–25 season, he became Iona's first-ever national champion, winning the 200-yard backstroke and 200-yard freestyle at the National Invitational. That season also included seven MAAC Championship records, seven school records, and the 2025 MAAC Most Outstanding Swimmer award. Over his collegiate career, Michael earned 16 MAAC gold medals, including four consecutive titles in the 200-yard freestyle, and was honored as the 2023–24 MAAC Student-Athlete of the Year and a three-time MAAC Most Outstanding Swimmer.

Michael earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Iona University in 2024 with a 3.71 GPA, followed by an MBA in 2025 with a 3.88 GPA. Throughout his academic career, he was recognized as a four-time MAAC All-Academic Team honoree and was a member of Beta Alpha Psi, the national accounting honor society. He became the first student-athlete in Iona swimming history to earn Academic All-America honors from College Sports Communicators.
 
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Players Mentioned

Michael Faughnan

Michael Faughnan

Middle Free
6' 6"
Senior
Michael Faughnan

Michael Faughnan

Middle Free
6' 6"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Michael Faughnan

Michael Faughnan

6' 6"
Senior
Middle Free
Michael Faughnan

Michael Faughnan

6' 6"
Graduate Student
Middle Free