NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Iona University men's and women's swimming and diving head coach Nick Cavataro announced a season-long celebration of 50 years of Iona swimming and diving that will culminate with a historic 50th Anniversary Banquet on April 3, in Burke Lounge.

The celebration will recognize the program's five decades of history, accomplishments and standout student-athletes, including the naming of five All-Decade Teams throughout the 2026-27 season.

"I am extremely excited to celebrate 50 years of Iona swimming and diving and to recognize all of our outstanding student-athletes who have helped shape this program throughout the decades," said Cavataro. "This celebration is about honoring the history and accomplishments of those who came before us while also recognizing the tradition and foundation they have created for our current and future student-athletes. Bringing these former standouts back into the Iona community and celebrating their accomplishments together will make this a very special year."

Iona swimming and diving began varsity competition in 1975 and has since recorded more than 400 meet victories and seven championship titles. The program has also produced numerous Metro Atlantic and Metropolitan champions, along with two NCAA National Qualifiers in Jamie Moser and Michael Faughnan.

The 50th Anniversary celebration will begin with the introduction of five All-Decade Teams, with each team announced the week preceding the current team's first five home dual meets of the 2026-27 season. The recognition schedule begins Oct. 10 against Rider, followed by the Oct. 16-17 duals against Wagner and Sacred Heart, Nov. 7 against Monmouth, Nov. 21 against Saint Peter's and Jan. 13 against Manhattan.

ALL-DECADE 1995-2005

The third edition of IUSD all decade from 1995-2005 features six women and six men and includes swimmers and divers who were among the most accomplished in program history, including the school's first male MAAC Champion, James Henning '98 and MAAC Outstanding swimmers Laura Koch Davis '98 and Aimee Bryers Alt '03.

The list of honorees on the women's side in addition to Koch and Bryers, include MAAC diver finalist Dr. Maria Rubin '98; Sprint star Rene Ridings '99 and backstroke and sprint specialist Kim Trebon Przekota, Esq '04. 

The men's side – in addition to James Henning '98, who took the team's first MAAC title in the 200-Back at the LaSalle MAAC Championship meet in his senior year also includes former distance freestyle specialist Brent Regan '05; Mamaroneck native and middle distance swimmer, Chris Driwinga '01; Ryan Pellow '01, former 200 and former-Individual Medley record holder; the versatile freestyle swimmer David Weber '00 and sprinter and  relay specialist, Christopher Przekota '04.

ALL-DECADE 1985 – 1995

The second edition of IUSD all decade team from 1985-1995, features four women and eight men. On the women's side is Nicole Mayer '93, who was the first female to win a MAAC title for Iona, taking the 1650-yard Freestyle in the '93 Championship at LaSalle University.

Also recognized were MAAC finalists Jeanne Moore '93 and Paulette McCready '94. From the class of 1986 is Colleen O'Connor and from 1989, Maureen Burns, both consistent dual meet scorers, team outstanding swimmers and captains. 

The men's honorees include six members of the Metropolitan Collegiate Swim Conference Championship teams which won titles in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1991 including MCSC champions Michael Wilson '88; Kevin Deyo '89; Karl Schwab '90; Robert McNulty '91 and Thomas Dolan '91.  The quintet combined won over two dozen MCSC titles in addition to the four championships and set eight individual school records at the time of their graduations.

The final member of the group was Erik Gerken '94, who was the MVP of the 1993 Men's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Team, winning the 200-yard Individual Medley and the 100 and 200-yard Breaststroke events.

ALL-DECADE 1975-1985

The first All-Decade Team, representing 1975-85, recognizes 12 individuals who helped establish the foundation for the program's first decade. The period included five seasons of co-ed competition before the addition of a women's team.

Peter Swenker served as Iona's first head coach from 1975-79 before Cavataro took over in 1980. The remaining four decades, 1985-95, 1995-2005, 2005-15 and 2015-25, will be recognized sequentially throughout the season.

The inaugural All-Decade Team features Metropolitan finalists and champions Maureen Arnold '83, Tommy Bathe '77; Ed Burstell '80, John Coleman '78, Carle Fierro '81, Steve Foristel '78, Greg Judge '85, Mary Ellen Maloney '78, Bob McKeon '81, Bob O'Neill '81, John Santacroce '81 and Rachel Schwab '80.

Five women are represented on the initial All-Decade Team, including divers Arnold and Schwab, who each advanced to the AIAW National Championship, the predecessor to the NCAA championship for women's athletics. Arnold is currently a coach with the Iona swimming and diving program.

Maloney and Fierro were among the first women to compete for Iona as members of what was then a co-ed team. Fierro went on to own and coach her own USA Age Group and Senior team in Westchester County, helping develop current Olympians and USA National Team members Kate Douglass and Claire Weinstein.

THE CELEBRATION

The 50th Anniversary celebration will continue throughout the 2026-27 season before culminating with the April 3 banquet, bringing together generations of Iona swimming and diving student-athletes, coaches and members of the program's extended family.