FAIRFIELD, Connecticut - The Marist men's swimming and diving team won its second Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference dual meet of the year when it beat Fairfield, 182-99, on Nov. 5. Marist competed in a short course metered pool for the first time since the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Long Course Invitational in late Februrary.
The A, B and C relay squads went 1-2-3 in the 200-meter medley relay with the foursome of junior Robert McDowell, freshman Luis Llenin, senior Manuel Garcia and freshman Evan Nilsson paving the way for a first place time of 1:50.72.
Individually, Nilsson was a part of a pair of 1-2 Marist finishes. He won the 200-meter freestyle in 1:56.84 and placed second in the 50-meter freestyle in 25 seconds flat. Sophomore Michael Valceanu was atop the field in the 50-meter freestyle (24.61 seconds) and placed third at 400 meters. Junior Sam Presgraves won the 100- (1:07.27) and 200-meter backstroke (2:29.71) and sophomore Miguel Madiera was victorious in both backstroke events with times of 1:00.20 in the 100-meter event and 2:13.83 at 200 meters.
Another Marist swimmer was successful in individual and relay events was freshman Michael O'Donovan, who won the 400-meter freestyle (4:18.90) and led off for the first place 200 meter freestyle relay squad. At shorter freestyle distances, freshman Daniel Knoll clocked in at the fastest time at 100 meters 52.82 seconds and was second in the 200-meter event.
Junior Peter Gallino took the top spot in both diving events, putting up 259.73 points at one meter and 294.98 points at three meters. Freshman Raislan Aiken wasn't too far behind with second place totals of 245.85 points and 264.33 points respectively.
Marist will not compete again until December when it goes up against Loyola and MAAC foes Iona and Saint Peter's at the H2ounds Invitational. The tri-meet is scheduled for December 2 and 3.