Burke and Tomasula lead Rider at Invite

By Rocco Schirripa
The swimming and diving team came away from the Bucknell Invitational last weekend with some solid individual performances. As a team, however, Rider didn’t perform as well in an event that saw some big name schools participating.
The women finished fifth out of seven, and the men finished sixth out of seven competing against other schools such as Princeton, Brown, Columbia and Syracuse.
“This meet let us see our progress as individuals and as a team,” said senior Brian Brady. “It has showed us what we have accomplished this year and what we still need to work on.”
For the women, senior Amanda Burke came in first in the one-meter dive with a score of 300.45.
“[Burke] dove out of her mind this weekend,” said junior Renata Stoehr. “She has incredible focus.”
Diving Coach Dennis Ceppa feels the diving team is right on track as it enters the winter break.
“My divers did an amazing job,” Ceppa said. “As a team, they pulled together to support each other, which helped ensure each person pushed to do the best they could.”
Senior Kellyanne Tomasula knew this event would be tough but was very pleased with the team’s output.
“Doing a mid-year invitational only being partially rested is always hard to do since it is a three-day meet, but everyone stepped up and performed and it was great,” she said.
Tomasula also won the 200 back (2:01.29), junior Brianna Burns came in third in the 100 free (52.02) and freshman Addie Oswald came in third in the 200 back (2:04.38).
“Addie really stepped her game up,” said Stoehr. “She really raced the people next to her and showed them that Rider is a force to be reckoned with at all class levels.”
Burke was also named the MAAC Women’s Diver of the Week, and Tomasula was named the MAAC Women’s Swimmer of the Week.
For the men, junior Ryan Nelthropp placed second in the 200 fly (1:54.79); sophomore Len Paccione came in seventh in the 1650 free (16:34.07); senior Brian Brady placed eighth in the 100 free (46.99); freshman Johnny Funk came in eighth in the 200 back (1:54.31); and junior Arthur Arciszewski came in eighth in the 1650 free (16:39.31).
“I am happy with my swims from the weekend,” said Brady, who is competing in his last conference championship. “From these swims, I know what I still need to work on for the conference championships.”
Also for the men, senior Paul Apostolakis was named the MAAC Men’s Diver of the Week for his second place finish in the three meter dive on Saturday and his first place finish on the one meter dive.
The Broncs take to the pool again Jan. 16 with a MAAC meet against Loyola at home.