October 20, 2007 - UMBC 165 Rider 134
October 20, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Swimming
Men: University of Maryland Baltimore County 170, Rider University 125
Women: University of Maryland Baltimore County 165, Rider University 134
LAWRENCEVILLE—In the 2007-08 season opener the Broncs lost to the powerful UMBC squad Saturday. “I was really proud of our teams’ efforts,” said Rider head coach Steve Fletcher. “UMBC is a meet where we are swimming up against competition that is much better than us most of the time. It fits into our scheduling philosophy that it challenges our best athletes. The events that we did not win we were very close.”
For the Rider women (0-1), junior Amanda Burke (Churchville, PA/William Tennent) won the 1-meter dive, setting a new Rider record (274.87) while qualifying for the NCAA Zone meet. “Amanda is an incredible athlete which helps her diving,” Fletcher said. “She is extremely motivated, disciplined and is very passionate about her sport. Everything is 100 percent with her. Nothing gets in her way. Mentally she has tremendous focus.”
“I was a little nervous because you don’t know what to expect, especially the first meet,” Burke said. “But it is good to be nervous, it keeps you on your toes, more aware of what you are supposed to do and not supposed to do.”
Burke also won the 3-meter (242.63) dive. “I didn’t think I did too well in the 3-meter,” Burke said, “but in the 1-meter I did a lot better than I did in our first meet last year. Today was a good starting point. I’ve been diving 1-meter longer so I prefer that event. I’m more comfortable with that dive. I just starting diving the 3-meter last year. Hopefully by the end of the season I will be just as comfortable up there.”
“Qualifying for Zones in the first meet of the year is incredible,” Fletcher said. “Last year at Zones she was in third place at one point, the highest place we’ve ever had at that meet, where the top two go to Nationals. She’s the real deal.”
“I’d really like to qualify for NCAAs,” Burke said. “Today I qualified for Zones, and last year it wasn’t until the end of January when I qualified. I try to get better each meet, but that is going to be tough this year because I scored so high today. But I have plenty of room to improve on the 3-meter.”
Junior Priscilla Modrov (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge) set two pool records in the butterfly, winning both the 100 butterfly (57.47) and the 200 butterfly (2:05.47). She also won the 200 individual medley (2:08.71), and swam on the winning 200 medley relay with freshman Carmen Menendez (Fairfax, VA/Oakton) and senior Stephanie Cosentino (Staten Island, NY/Notre Dame). “Priscilla was incredible today, as always,” Fletcher said.
Sophomore Kellyanne Tomasula (Sussex/Vernon Twp.) won the 100 back (58.12) and the 100 free (53.47), and swam on the winning 200 medley relay. Freshman Brianna Burns (Chestnut Ridge, NY/Spring Valley) placed second in the 50 free (25.18). “Brianna was in lane six in that race, and normally the fastest times are in the middle lanes,” Fletcher said, “and in the 400 free relay she swam her leg in 53.33, which is very close to her personal best. She has a ton of potential, so again it is very exciting to see these young swimmers swim this fast this soon.”
For the Rider men (0-1) senior Dylan Korn (Hawthorne, NY/Westlake) won both the 1-meter (285.10) and the 3-meter (287.41) dives.
Freshman Drew Modrov (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge) won the 50 free (21.62). “Drew did very well, winning the 50 in his first collegiate meet,” Fletcher said. “21.42 is the Rider record that has stood for a long time.” Rider Hall of Famer Jack Schwerzler set it in 1991. “21.62 is a very fast swim for a freshman, and he still has room to improve, which is exciting.”
Modrov placed second in the 100 free (48.84) and swam on the winning 200 medley relay with sophomore Scott Player (Chino Hills, CA/Ruben S. Ayala) senior Matt Bauer (Lansdale, PA/North Penn) and senior Peter Starr (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown Area). Bauer also won the 100 breaststroke (1:01.63) and Starr placed second in the 100 backstroke (53.55).
“We have a lot of new people and they handled themselves really well today,” Fletcher said. “They showed maturity today and are just going to get faster.”
Last season at UMBC the Retrievers won 11 of 13 events in both the men’s and women’s competition. Rider is 1-5 against UMBC, the only victory coming in 2005, the last time UMBC came to Rider. “The score was definitely closer this year,” Fletcher said. “The women’s score was extremely close and the guys put up a really good fight.”
Rider swims at Rutgers with Seton Hall and Richmond October 26. “That will be exciting,” Fletcher said. “Our men always have a close meet with Seton Hall. If they respond to the challenge the same way they responded today we can compete well with a Big East opponent. For the women, Richmond is the A-10 champ and Rutgers is in the top 20 nationally, so we are again swimming up.”
-RU-
