By Dominic Capone

This season’s batch of seniors officially bid farewell to the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center. The Fordham swimming and diving team celebrated Senior Day during its meet against the University of Massachusetts Minutemen. The women’s team dominated, 205-95, improving to 7-0 for the season as the men fell just short at 156-144, dropping to 3-4 for the year.

Everything was clicking for the women’s team as it won 13 events on the day. Senior Tara Brunner won two individual races and added two more wins in the relays. Brunner won the 50 and 100 freestyle events in 23.86 and 51.31 seconds, respectively. Along with sophomore Michelle Martin, fifth-year senior Milly Furneaux and junior Theresa Mullen, finished first in the 200 medley relay at 1:46.05. Brunner didn’t stop there as she then helped Mullen, Kiara Norris and Caitlin McNary to the top spot of the 200 freestyle relay, winning in 1:36.06.

“I have been swimming competitively for about 17 years, and this meet marked the beginning of the end,” Brunner said after the meet. “I don’t think it has fully hit me yet that my collegiate swim career is almost over, but this meet made me reflect on my career as a whole and I am very thankful to be where I am today.”

McNary also had two individual wins, taking first in the 200 (1:53.10) and 500 (5:01.06) freestyle events. Furneaux won the 100 (1:05.11) and 200 (2:24.74) breaststroke races, topping it off for the women.

Despite the loss, the Fordham men’s team still won seven events against the Minutemen. Junior Joseph Vizza shined as he won the 100 (47.39) and 200 (1:43.04) freestyle events. He was also a part of the team that won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:25.40 along with sophomore Bryce Bollesen, sophomore Auston Ramsey and senior Travis Monahan.

“The last few years have really flown by and it was a day where I was able to reflect on my accomplishments as an individual and also as a member of a team,” Monahan, a graduating senior, said. “Although at the same time it was just another meet, a stepping stone, to the main event in mid-February. After last year’s upsetting last place finish at A-10’s due to a number of injured key members, it would be interesting to see what we can do this year with a full line up.”

The women’s team looks to go undefeated in a season for the first time since the 2009-10 season when they went 12-0. The Fordham swimming and diving team will have some time off before it heads to the Atlantic 10 Championship at Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio.