Feb. 23, 2002
Final Stats
Baltimore, MD---The Marist College men's and women's swimming and diving teams captured the 2002 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship titles this evening. The men tallied 960 points, finishing ahead of second place Rider (703), while the women registered 838 points to finish in front of runner-up Loyola (671). For the men, it was their seventh consecutive MAAC Championship title since joining the conference in the fall of 1995. For the women this was their fifth team title, as they regained it from 2001 champion Rider, who finished third this year with 509 points.
Other accolades for the Red Foxes this evening were awarded to David Dobbins (Rochester, NY) and head men's coach Larry Van Wagner. Dobbins was named Most Outstanding Male Swimmer for the fourth time in his collegiate career after setting new MAAC records in the 200-yard freestyle (1:39.39) and the 100-yard freestyle (45.35). He was also first in the 500-yard freestyle (4:35.90). Van Wagner received Men's Coach of the Year honors.
Other highlights for the men this evening were with freshman Matthew Castillo (Jamaica, NY), who set a new school record in the 200-yard butterfly (1:53.75), erasing the old standard of 1:54.85 by Joseph Bubel in 1990. Castillo placed third in the event for the Red Foxes. In the final event of the evening, the 400-yard freestyle relay, the team of Nick Lakin (Fairport, NY), Castillo, Ricky Kapusta (Stamford, Conn.), and Dobbins swam to victory, establishing a new conference and school record in the process. The Red Foxes went a 3:03.90, easily beating the time of 3:06.34 set at last year's championships.
In the women's competition, Jennifer Meyer (Fairport, NY) claimed her second individual title of the championship, as she was victorious in the 100-yard freestyle (53.57). Kristen Schnitzer (Bronxville, NY) set a new school record in the 200-yard backstroke (2:09.65), beating the mark of 2:09.85 set by Jennifer Jaeger in 1996, and placing second in the race. In the final event of the night, the team of Sarah McKinney (Schaumburg, IL), Jennifer Gelsomino (Harrison, NY), Schnitzer, and Meyer touched the wall first in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:35.79).
The Red Foxes return to action on Thursday, February 28th, as they begin competition at the ECAC Championships hosted by the University of Pittsburgh, in Pittsburgh, PA.
