December 2, 2005 - at Rutgers Super Splash
December 2, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rider at Rutgers Super Splash
PISCATAWAY—The Rider University men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams are competing at the Rutgers Super Splash 2005, hosted by Rutgers University Friday through Sunday, and are being led by the brother and sister act of Brandon and Priscilla Modrov (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge).
Junior Brandon Modrov won the 200 individual medley (1:53.03), and his sister, freshman sensation Priscilla Modrov, placed fourth in the 200 individual medley (2:09.50).
“Brandon and Priscilla have had a huge competitive impact on the team,” said Rider head coach Steve Fletcher. “Brandon has improved every year, mainly through hard work and serious summer training, and Priscilla came in with a lot of talent this year.” Priscilla and Brandon both earned the MAAC Swimmer of the Week award in November.
“This was my first big time college meet, and it was very exciting,” said Priscilla. “The talent level was great. There were a lot of fast swimmers here, which makes it so exciting. The better the competition the better I swim. The competition gets you more excited.”
“It really helps to swim against fast competition,” Brandon agreed. “The 200 IM is my favorite event. It’s very exciting swimming the final 50 free at the end.”
“I prefer the 400 IM,” said Priscilla. “It is harder, maybe that’s why I like it.” The Modrovs will swim the 400 IM on Saturday.
Priscilla, the Rider female athlete of the month for November, is currently ranked first in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in the 200 free, the 200 IM and the 400 IM, and second in the 100 free, 100 back and 200 back. She set the Rider team and Coppola Pool records in both the 200 IM and 400 IM last month. A member of the National Honor Society in high school, Priscilla graduated early and with her outstanding academic record could have gone almost anywhere to college. “I had my choices, but once I visited Rider I knew this is where I wanted to go,” said Priscilla. “I loved the team and the coaches. Rider has a great business school, but the swim program was very important to me as well.”
Brandon, an accounting major, paved the way for his younger sister to come here. “I came to Rider because the atmosphere was great, the coach really seemed to care about his swimmers more than other coaches I’ve come across,” said Brandon. “Priscilla saw how much faster my times got since I’ve been here, and I’m sure it helps when the coach already knows your family.”
Also for the Broncs, senior Dan Burgess (Greeley, CO/Union Colony Prep) placed second in the 50 free (21.14) and junior Eric McFerin (Columbus, OH/Upper Arlington) placed fourth (21.30). Senior Chris Coles (Plainsboro, N.J./WW-P North) placed fourth in the 3-meter dive, and sophomore Dylan Korn (Hawthorne, NY/Westlake) was sixth in the 3-meter dive. Junior Andy French (Richfield, MN) placed 18th in the 500 free (4:45.10).
Senior Rose Brenner (Cape May/Lower Cape May Regional) placed 15th the 50 free (25.47), sophomore Stephanie Cosentino (Staten Island, NY/Notre Dame) placed 18th in the 50 free (25.43), freshman Kristen Warwick (Catonsville, MD/Mount de Sales) placed 19th in the 500 freestyle (5:20.13), senior Jennifer Feenstra (Reading, PA/Gov. Mifflin) placed 20th in the 200 individual medley (2:15.49), and freshman Kelsey Tokar (Frederick, MD/Gov. Thomas Johnson) placed 20th in the 500 freestyle (5:19.45).
“Things went very well today,” said Fletcher. “We had good representation in the finals, and I am definitely pleased with the way we competed.”
Competition continues Saturday.
-RU-
