BALTIMORE, MD—The Rider University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are competing at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships, hosted by Loyola College this weekend.  After the second day, the Rider women’s team is in first place out of ten teams and the men’s team is in second place out of eight teams.

“I thought it was an outstanding day,” said head coach Steve Fletcher.  “Both teams competed very well today.”

On Friday, freshman Priscilla Modrov (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) set two MAAC records, winning the 200 free (1:53.69) and the 400IM (4:27.84). 

Junior Lauren Urbanski (Lansdowne, Pa./Upper Darby) re-set her own conference record, winning the 100 butterfly with a time of 57.12 with junior Courtney Clark (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) winning the 1000 free with a time of 10:23.93.

The women’s 800 freestyle relay of Clark, Urbanski, sophomore Stephanie Cosentino (Staten Island, N.Y./Notre Dame Academy) and Modrov set a new MAAC record with a winning time of 7:44.08.

“On the women’s side, we definitely have the momentum,” added Fletcher.  “The team is on a high right now, after the performances of the last two days.”

For the Rider men, Brandon Modrov (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) won the 400IM with a MAAC record time of 3:59.75 with senior Dan Burgess (Greeley, Colo./Union Colony Prep) winning the 200 free (1:39.58) and freshman Josh Rosenbluth (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) winning the 100 back (51.20).

Sophomore diver Dylan Korn (Hawthorne, N.Y./Westlake) won the three-meter with a score of 495.75.

The men’s 800 freestyle relay of junior Andy French (Richfield, Minn./Richfield Senior), Modrov, senior Trevor Vernal (Milford, Conn./Notre Dame) and Burgess won with a time of 6:51.38.

“We are doing as well as expected on the men’s side,” said Fletcher.  “But the numbers are heavily favoring Marist due to our lack of depth.  “The diving went well and we swam fast but we just don’t have the horses to keep up.”

Commenting on the record setting day, when the Broncs set five conference records, Fletcher wasn’t surprised at the effort or the performance.  “I think we were poised to do this well.  We trained hard and we are peaking at the right time.  The times that they are swimming are well within their ability.”

The goal coming to the meet, according to Fletcher was to outperform all of the teams.  “We had many of our swimmers post life-time best times and that’s what you need to do at this point of the season.  The women’s team has a real chance at a conference championship and even though there are more Marist swimmers in final events on Saturday, we are confident that we will be right with them until the last event is finished.”

-RU-