5 pool records set in men’s opener
By Shariq Marshall
The men’s swimming and diving team set five Coppola Pool records while competing at home on Oct. 10 against the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).
The men’s team defeated UMBC for the first time since 2006, 157-141, while the women’s team lost 155-116.
“This meet is meant to challenge the best athletes on our teams,” said Head Coach Steve Fletcher. “[It was] the first opportunity to see our freshman class from both teams compete.”
Sophomore Zack Molloy led the men’s team with impressive performances. He won the 500-yard free, setting a pool record of 4:36.82, and he won the 200-yard free in 1:40.64.
In addition to Zack Molloy’s individual success, the men’s team as a whole performed impressively.
The 400-yard free relay team of junior William Molloy, freshman Vincent Gibbons, junior Ian Flynn and Zack Molloy, won and set a new pool record of 3:07.00. The 200-yard medley relay team also set a new pool record time of 1:34.10.
Also for the men’s team, junior Matthan Martir won the 50-yard free with a time of 21.32 and broke a pool record in the 100-yard butterfly with 50.51, although he placed second.
Senior Wayco Bailey won the 3-meter dive with a score of 283.95 and freshman Joseph Warker won the 1-meter dive with a score of 272.85.
Even the freshmen of the men’s team did well on Saturday. Freshman Carter Paules set a new pool record with a time of 2:07.41, when he won the 200-yard breaststroke. He also won the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 58.48. Freshman Griffin Hutton won the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:54.60.
Although the women’s team lost to UMBC, they competed well. Sophomore Hannah Bayer won the 500-yard free with a time of 5:36.22. Senior Kaitlyn O’Connor won the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:01.92. Freshman Leeanna Cass won the 200-yard with 2:19.46.
The Rider men’s team are four-time defending champions in the MAAC and are the favorites to win again this season.
The Rider women’s team last won the MAAC Title in 2009, finishing runner-up five times since and are picked to finish second this season. Fletcher believes that there is a lot of potential in the women’s team, especially with the large number of new freshmen.
He added that it will take hard work everyday for the team to realize its potential.
“We take each year one at a time,” Fletcher said. “We’ve got a great group of new guys, and we’re trying to blend the chemistry of the group with our returning leaders to be on the same page by February.”
Rider will host Fairfield on Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. in the Coppola Pool.
