January 24, 2007 - Rider 172 Lafayette 105
January 24, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Swimming & Diving
Men: Rider University 172, Lafayette College 105
Women: Rider University 153, Lafayette College 144
LAWRENCEVILLE—In the final meet of the regular season, the Broncs swept Lafayette Wednesday. “We weren’t expecting to beat Lafayette’s women, so that was a pleasant surprise,” said Rider head coach Steve Fletcher. “We broke a few pool records today, so the regular season ended on a very positive note.”
Coach Fletcher is a 1992 graduate of Lafayette. “I joked with the team today that part of me doesn’t want by alma mater to lose,” said Fletcher. “But obviously I’m a Rider guy. The joke got them excited to beat them and maybe rub it in my face a little bit.”
For the Rider women, senior Lauren Urbanski (Lansdowne, Pa./Upper Darby) won the 100 butterfly in a pool record time of 58.35, and won the 200 butterfly in a pool record time of 2:06.24. Sophomore Priscilla Modrov (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge) won the 200 free (1:54.96), the 400 IM (4:39.82) and the 200 breaststroke (2:23.96).
Senior Shannon Kahler (Ojai, Calif./Chaparral/Grossmont CC) won the 3-meter dive (252.23) and placed second in the 1-meter dive (235.72). “Shannon came in as a transfer last year and had that ‘West Coast’ laid back attitude,” Fletcher said. “It took her a while to adjust to our way of doing things. She has really preserved her personality, but has come out and worked a lot harder, got some of that Northeast grit to her, and the combination is killer.”
“I think all of the training in Florida paid off,” said Kahler, a Music Education major at Westminster Choir College who sang the national anthem before the final home meet. “I had some people in the audience tonight, which seldom happens since I’m from California. It was great to end on such a good note. I think this was one of my best performances.”
For the Rider men, senior Brandon Modrov (Smithtown, NY/Hauppauge) won the 100 breaststroke in a pool record time of 57.97, won the 200 breast (2:08.72) and swam on the pool record breaking 200 medley relay (1:35.68) with junior Peter Starr (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown Area Senior), freshman Scott Player (Chino Hills, Calif./Ruben S. Ayala) and freshman Brian Brady (Turnersville/Gloucester Catholic).
“Brandon’s goal was to get that pool record and he did,” said Fletcher, “and he just missed the record in the 200. He’s on track to have some great swims at the MAAC Championships.”
“Even though we are a small team we’re swimming really fast right now,” said Modrov, the 2006 Rider Athlete of the Year. “We’ve been training well. It is really exciting to see records being broken at this stage, so close to MAACs. It was a really good day for both teams. I was happy to contribute today, since I haven’t done much this year with my injuries. I’m healthier now.”
Freshman Kellyanne Tomasula (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Township) won the 100 backstroke (57.98), the 100 free (54.07) and swam on the pool record setting winning 200 medley relay (1:49.06) with Urbanski, Modrov and junior Stephanie Cosentino (Staten Island, N.Y./Notre Dame Academy).
Senior Andy French (Richfield, MN) won the 200 butterfly (1:58.46) and the 500 free (4:44.29), sophomore Josh Rosenbluth (Lawrenceville/Lawrence) won the 100 backstroke (52.61) and the 200 back (1:55.48). Scott Player won the 50 free (21.87) and the 100 butterfly (53.54).
Freshman Alex Grubbs (York, PA) won the 1,000 free (10:13.78), Brady won the 200 free (1:48.77), and junior Dylan Korn (Hawthorne, N.Y./Westlake) won the 1-meter dive (292.80)
Sophomore Amanda Burke (Churchville, Pa./William Tennent) won the 1-meter dive (269.92).
Rider competes at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships February 8-10 at Loyola. “We rarely have a meet this late in the season, but with all of the pool records broken today it is a reflection on where we are in the preparation for the MAAC Championships,” Fletcher said.
-RU-
