January 13, 2007 - Rider 224 Howard 60 / Rider 179 Loyola 121

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January 13, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Swimming & Diving
Men: Rider University 205, Howard 67
Rider 163, Loyola College 133
Women: Rider 224, Howard 60
Rider 179 Loyola 121

BALTIMORE, Md.—Have a happy HEALTHY new year.  A saying that’s been around for decades.  And for the Rider swimming and diving teams, entering the first competition of the new year, especially on the men’s side they are taking the healthy part literally.  “Having a full lineup today, especially for the men made a huge difference,” said head coach Steve Fletcher.  “It will give us a better opportunity to compete at the championships and gives us a huge lift knowing we can be competitive coming into any meet that we swim at.”

The Broncs swept a tri-meet with Howard and Loyola on Saturday with over 30 percent of the men’s lineup returning from illness and injuries suffered during the first semester of competition.

For the Rider men (2-6), senior Brandon Modrov (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) won the 100 breast with a career-best time of 58.64 and won the 200 breast (2:11.95) and 200 IM (1:57.94).

For the Rider women (3-5), sophomore Priscilla Modrov (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) won the 200 free (1:57.11), the 100 breast (1:08.67) and the 200 breast (2:26.55) with senior Lauren Urbanski (Lansdowne, Pa./Upper Darby) winning the 200 butterfly (2:07.81), 100 butterfly (58.86) and 200 IM (2:14.15).

Freshman Kellyanne Tomasula (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Township) won the 100 free (54.95), the 50 free (25.01) and the 100 back (58.84).

Like any good pool, you need depth and Rider had it back today.

“We are trying on the recruiting trail to bring in some more quantity to go with the quality swimmers that we have had,” said Fletcher.  “We are heading in that direction.  We’ve just had an injury filled season and that has exposed our lack of depth and we are working on addressing that for next year.”

Diver and graduate student Chris Coles (Plainsboro, N.J./West Windsor Plainsboro North) won both the men’s three-meter (266.77) and the men’s one-meter (235.57) with senior women’s diver Shannen Kahler (Ojai, Calif./Chaparral/Grossmont CC) winning the one-meter (230.77) and sophomore Amanda Burke (Churchville, Pa./William Tennett) winning the women’s three-meter (236.17).

“We knew the meet would be close, especially on the men’s side,” said Fletcher.  “The effort of the divers really pushed us over the top and allowed us to get the win.”

Also for the Rider men, sophomore Josh Rosenbluth (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) won the 100 back (52.51) and 200 back (1:56.23).  Senior Andy French (Richfield, Minn./Richfield Senior) posted a win in the 200 butterfly (1:58.95) with freshman Scott Player (Chino Hills, Calif./Ruben S. Ayala) winning the 100 butterfly (53.05).

“It is important to swim well at Loyola,” Fletcher added.  “They are in our conference and have a strong program.  Today gave us the opportunity to compete where the conference championships will be contested and by being here now and being successful in this pool, it gives us a psychological advantage and everything won’t be new to us when we come back in a month.  Also, Loyola is a threat to win the conference championships next month so any success we can have against them now boosts our confidence when we see them again.”

The men’s (1:37.31) and women’s (1:49.76) 200 medley relays also posted wins for the Broncs.

Rider concludes the home portion of the schedule with a meet against Lafayette on January 24 at 5:00pm before returning to Loyola for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships next month.

Here’s to their continued good health.

-RU-