February 18, 2007 - Broncs at ECAC's - Women 3rd / Men 5th
February 18, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Swimming/Diving
Rider @ ECAC’s – Day Three
Women 3rd of 16 – Men 5th of 18
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.—The Rider men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams competed at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships, hosted by Harvard University with the women placing third of 16 teams and the men finishing fifth of 18 teams. "I was happy with the effort from both teams," said head coach Steve Fletcher. "The women's team showed their depth by placing high in almost all of their events and on the men's side, we had several of the younger swimmers step up in a very competitive environment and that gives a very positive outlook as we head into next year."
For the Rider men, senior Brandon Modrov (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) won the 200 breast (2:03.16) with sophomore Josh Rosenbluth (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) placing second in the 200 back (1:50.91). Junior diver Dylan Korn was second in the one-meter (271.80) and graduate-student diver Chris Coles (Plainsboro, N.J./West Windsor Plainsboro North) was fourth in the one-meter (263.10).
"Everyone on the men's side had to play a larger role," Fletcher added. "And a fifth place showing with such a small roster is excellent and the gap from third to seventh was only 30 points so we were very close to being third. It was a huge challenge for a small team and we rose to that challenge this weekend. The seniors, Andy French (Richfield, Minn./Richfield Senior), Chris Coles and Brandon Modrov, the younger swimmers look up to them to post great times and scores and swim fast every time in the water and what we were able to accomplish this year was a direct result of their leadership. I am really proud of the senor class for both teams."
For the Rider women’s team, senior Lauren Urbanski (Lansdowne, Pa./Upper Darby) was third in the 200 butterfly (2:04.87) with sophomore Priscilla Modrov (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) finishing fifth in the 200 breast (2:24.92).
"The women were swimming against conference champions from the Ivy League and the America East Conference," said Fletcher. "And they held their own. We didn't win all the events but we were able to get a lot of seconds, thirds and fourth place finishes and that helped the team scoring. It was a very strong team effort this weekend."
The women’s 400 free relay of Priscilla Modrov, Urbanski, junior Stephanie Cosentino (Staten Island, N.Y./Notre Dame Academy) and freshman Kellyanne Tomasula (Sussex, N.J./Vernon Township) finished second with a time of 3:32.68. Tomasula was 14th in the 100 free (53.99) and Cosentino was 16th in the 100 free (54.95).
Also for the men’s team, freshman Alex Grubbs (York, Pa./York Suburban) was seventh in the 1650 free (17:05.52), junior Peter Starr (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown Area Senior) was ninth in the 200 back (1:54.65), junior Matt Bauer (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) was 11th in the 200 breast (2:12.69), sophomore Drew Palmieri (Hanover, Mass./Boston Coll. HS/Mercersburg Acad.) was 13th in the 200 butterfly (1:56.79), freshman Brett Daroci (Bayville, N.J./Central Regional) was 25th in the 200 butterfly (2:01.50), freshman Brian Brady (Turnersville, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) was 26th in the 100 free (48.49) and freshman Scott Player (Chino Hills, Calif./Ruben S. Ayala) placed 37th in the 100 free (48.95).
The men’s 400 free relay of Player, Brandon Modrov, Rosenbluth and Brady finished 12th with a time of 3:12.10.
Also for the women’s team, freshman Lovette Leonhard (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) was 10th in the 1650 free (18:03.27), senior Hayley Wittsack (Gaithersburg, Md./Damascus) was 16th in the 200 back (2:14.91), sophomore Erika Kriedel (Wethersfield, Conn./Wethersfield) was 17th in the 200 back (2:17.47), senior Adrianne Glasgow (Davidsonville, Md./Saint Mary’s) was 19th in the 200 butterfly (2:13.96) with senior Ryan Mitten (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) finishing 22nd in the 200 butterfly (2:18.60).
In an update from Saturday, senior diver Shannen Kahler (Ojai, CA) who had hit her head on the diving board competing in the three-meter was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon and traveled with the team from Cambridge on Sunday night according to coach Fletcher. "The staff members at Harvard were excellent and I wanted to thank them," Fletcher said. "All of the other swimmers and divers, you spend all weekend competing against them and all they wanted to know was how she was doing and that she would be ok and we appreciate that level of support. The swimming and diving community is very close-knit and the support that we received from the other teams was incredible. We really appreciate the efforts of the staff at the meet. It's too soon to tell if Shannen will be competing at the NCAA Zone Championships in early March but the important part is that she is ok."
-RU-
Team Scores:
Men
1. Harvard 513, 2. Marist 458.50, 3. Columbia 387.50, 4. Johns Hopkins 378,
5. Rider 369, 6. Binghamton 366, 7. Yale 358, 8. Penn 236.50, 9. Loyola 159,
10. Iona 114.50, 11. Saint Peter’s 107, 12. Niagara 95, 13. Brandeis 77,
14. Boston U. 40, 15. Fairfield 38, 16. UMass 25, 17. Penn St. Behrend 23,
18. Maine 18
Women
1. Harvard 648, 2. Marist 589.50, 3. Rider 409.50, 4. Towson 401.50,
5. Vermont 370, 6. Penn 197, 7. Loyola 195.50, 8. Columbia 183, 9. Maine 177,
10. Yale 158, 11. Binghamton 104, 12. Fairfield 97, 13. New Hampshire 42,
14. Boston U. 33, 15. Niagara 30, 16. Manhattan 10.
