By Dominic Capone
The Fordham Swimming and Diving teams wrapped up their regular season this past week, with both teams defeating Iona and the women coming away with an additional win against UMass. The women had an outstanding day in their 150-75 victory over Iona, while the men picked up their 3rd victory of the season winning 131-94.
Sophomore diver Stephanie Kerkeles took first place in both the one-meter and the three-meter boards, with a career-high 269.93 points and a season best of 258.98 points respectively.
The women also won all nine individual events and both relays. In fact, all nine wins came from nine different swimmers. Senior captain Erin McBride got things started for the Rams winning the 1000 freestyle with a time of 10:41.02. The other freestyle winners consisted of junior Tara Brunner in the 50 with a time of 24.15, freshman Noelle Theodoulou winning the 100 in 54.12 seconds, freshman Bayley Frierson in the 200 with a time of 1:56.85 and sophomore Paulina Watson, who won the 500 freestyle in 5:15.28. The remaining wins came in the 200 IM in which sophomore Natalie Brown won in 2:11.32, the 200 butterfly won by sophomore Catherine Alabanza in 2:08.28, the 200 backstroke won by freshman Michelle Martin in 2:10.00 and the last win came from senior Nele Albers with a time of 2:24.51 in the 200 breaststroke.
In the relays, the women won the 400 medley behind freshman Caitlin McNary, junior Gabrielle Celia, Theodoulou and freshman Hannah McGee with a time of 3:59.20. The team of Brunner, Celia, Watson and last week’s A-10 women athlete of the week sophomore Amelia Bullock helped the women pick up a win in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:39.12.
On the men’s side, junior Christopher Craig won both diving events, setting a new career-high in both the three-meter with 289.80 points and the one-meter with 260.93 points.
The Rams won both relay events and five individual events as well. Fifth-year senior Joe Mercurio started his team off with a win in the 50 freestyle in 21.75 seconds. Junior Isiah Magsino took first place in the 200 IM in 1:57.25. Other winners include senior Manny Avila Garcia taking the top time in the 200 butterfly in 2:00.13, sophomore Joseph Vizza winning the 100 freestyle in 47.92 seconds and junior Ethan D’Arcangelo taking the top spot in the 200 backstroke event with a time of 1:56.64.
In the relays, Fordham’s team consisting of freshman Auston Ramsay, junior Travis Monahan, Mercurio and Vizza won the 400 medley relay in 3:28.43, while the 200 freestyle relay team of Monahan, Mercurio, Kevin Berry and Jack Madigan placed first in 1:26.39.
The Rams then traveled up to UMass where the women won 171.5-128.5 and the men lost 211-87.
The women ended their regular season on a strong note winning nine events. Freshman Michelle Martin had herself a day, winning a total of three events. She took first in the 100 backstroke in 58.64 seconds and the 100 butterfly in 57.23 seconds. She also helped lead Celia, sophomore Samantha McDonald and junior Tara Brunner to a win in the 200 medley with a time of 1:47.37.
The men struggled in their loss, winning only two events. Joe Mercurio was a part of both of those wins, placing first in the 100 butterfly in 49.16 seconds and also winning the 200 freestyle relay in 1:24.13 along with Travis Monahan, Bryce Bollesen and Joseph Vizza.
The Fordham Rams will now get set for the Atlantic 10 Championship at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio which will be held February 14-18.
