Fairfield Sweeps Swimming and Diving Weekly Awards
MAAC Sports
Edison, NJ ? Kekoa Taparra of Fairfield won MAAC Men’s Swimmer of the Week honors, while teammate Lauren Kennedy took the honor on the women’s side. Fellow Stags Taylor Stecko and Hillary Urbancic were named MAAC Men’s and Women’s Divers of the Week, respectively.
Taparra, a freshman from Miliani, Hawaii, was a part of two records and picked up two first place finishes in Fairfield's double-dual victories against Manhattan and Bryant. He captured the 50-meter freestyle by tying the current record of 24.70 seconds. He also set a record in the 200-meter backstroke with a time of 2:12.19, breaking the previous mark of 2:12.77 set in 2004. Taparra was also the lead leg on the 200-meter medley relay that took first place.
Kennedy, a freshman from Belmont, Massachusetts, was a triple-winner in the Stags' victories against Manhattan and Bryant. She won the 200-meter individual medley with a time of 2:33.62 and the 200-meter breaststroke in a time of 2:48.97. She was also the second leg of the 200-meter medley relay that posted a winning time of 2:08.84.
Stecko, a junior out of South Windsor, Connecticut, was awarded first place points on both boards in Fairfield's meet against Manhattan and Bryant. He recorded a mark of 243.45 on the one-meter board and a score of 241.43 on the three-meter board.
Urbancic, a junior from Concord, Massachusetts, was awarded first place points on both boards in Fairfield's victories against Manhattan and Bryant. She notched a personal best in the three-meter with a score of 186.68 and had a mark of 176.93 on the one-meter.
The 2009 MAAC Swimming and Diving Championships will be held February 12-14 at Loyola College in Baltimore, MD.