2017 MAAC LifeStorage Swimming & Diving Championships Set to Start Today
MAAC Sports
BUFFALO, NY - The 2017 MAAC LifeStorage Swimming & Diving Championships will be held Wednesday, February 8 through Saturday, February 11 in Buffalo, New York at the Burt Flickinger Athletic Center at Erie Community College. The first event of the championships will be the Men’s 1-meter dive, which starts at 3:00p.m.
Rider University looks to win the MAAC Men’s Swimming & Diving Championship for the sixth-straight year. At the 2016 MAAC Championships, Rider finished day one of competition with 80 points. The Rider 200-yard medley relay team of Lucas Musselman, Adam Phillips, Zack Molloy, and Matthan-Matthew Martir broke the seven-year-old all-time MAAC record with a time of 1:29.13, almost a full second under the 2009 record set by Loyola University. The same team then went on to a second record breaking performance in the 800-yard freestyle relay, breaking the previous record by more than 10 seconds with a time of 6:34.15.
On the women’s side, Marist College seek its eighth-straight MAAC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championship. Marist’s 800-yard freestyle relay team comprised of Bridget Curley, Sara Nestrowitz, Bethany Powhida, and Meredith Wurtz broke the previous MAAC record by more than two seconds with a time of 7:29.41 at the 2016 MAAC Swimming and Diving Championships. Both Rider and Marist were voted the unanimous favorites in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Rider returns junior Zack Molloy who recorded seven first place finishes at the 2016 MAAC Championships and was named the 2016 MAAC Most Outstanding Men’s Swimmer. Rider sophomore Joseph Warker was a three-time MAAC Diver of the Week recipient this season.
Marist’s senior Meredith Wurtz was named MAACWomen’s Swimmer of the Week four times this season. She currently holds six Marist records in the 50, 100, and 200-yard free, 200 and 400-yard medley relay, and the 800-yard freestyle relay. Wurtz is seeded first going into the 2017 MAAC LifeStorage Swimming & Diving Championships in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle.
Megan Berardelli, a five-time MAAC Women’s Diver of the Week this season, has won both diving events (1- and 3-meter) at five dual meets and one invitational this season.
Canisius College junior Travis Wright was a six-time MAAC Diver of the Week this season. His two best scores of the year came last week when he took first place in the 1-meter (371.85) and 3-meter (383.85) dives at the Fredonia Diving Invite.
Zack Molloy set a new pool record at Jacob’s Pool in the 200-yard free (1:39.34) this season. Molloy also competed this summer in the 2016 United States Olympics Trials in the 200-free. Wurtz swam her fastest 100-yard free at her final home meet of the season last week with a time of (53.36).
Tickets can be purchased online at maac.ticketleap.com or at the door on the day of the event. The championship schedule, psych sheets, and digital program can be found at maacsports.com/swimanddive.