POUGHKEEPSIE, New York - The Marist women's and men's swimming and diving teams will compete in their home opening meet of the 2017-18 campaign when they take on Fordham at 6 p.m. Oct. 19 in McCann Natatorium. Live results will be available on the Meet Mobile app.
 
The Red Foxes' men's team enters its second meet of the year 29th in the Collegeswimming.com Mid-Major Team Rankings.   
 
Last Time Out (Women)
Marist's women narrowly defeated Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rival Canisius, 155-145, in their regular season opener Oct. 13. Freshman Georgeanne Zimmerman had a breakout performance in her first ever collegiate meet, winning all four events in which she competed. The 200-yard medley relay victory kicked off the meet and Zimmerman's three first place finishes in individual events helped give the Red Foxes 38 of their 155 points.
 
The strong freshmen performances continued on the diving boards, where Esabelle Gervasio took the top spot in the 1-meter dive with 237.60 points. 
 
Last Time Out (Men)
On the men's side the meet came down to the final event, the 400-yard freestyle relay, and the Red Foxes edged the Golden Griffins 158-142.
 
Marist's foursome of junior Daniel Knoll, freshman Diego Faucher, freshman Murray Coueslant and junior Miguel Madeira raced to the fastest dual meet time in school history (3:08.67) in the relay to lock up the close win. 
 
Individually, sophomore Evan Nilsson won the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 9:37.70, which currently puts him 37th fastest in the nation in the event. He also placed first in the 500-yard freestyle (4:44.17).
 
The Red Foxes' men's squad has times that are among the nation's best, as the record setting 400-yard freestyle relay mark is 52nd in the country. The men's 200-yard medley relay time of 1:35.62 is 65th fastest in the nation.
 
Scouting Fordham (Women)
Fordham's women finished with a record of 8-1 in the 2016-17 regular season, losing only to Boston College. This year will mark the fifth straight time the Rams will open their regular season against the Red Foxes.
 
Erin McBride and Tara Brunner were multiple event winners the last time the Rams faced off against Marist. McBride placed first in the 200- (1:54.82) and 500-yard freestyle (5:08.28) while Brunner touched first in the 50- (24.48 seconds) and 100-yard freestyle (53.04 seconds). Brunner was also a member of Fordham's third place 200-yard freestyle relay squad at the Atlantic 10 Championships.
 
Wendy Espina-Esquivel returns to the diving squad for one final season. She competed on both boards at last year's NCAA Zone Qualifier Diving Championships and earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors in the 1-meter dive for the second straight year at the conference title meet. She placed second at the Atlantic 10 Championships with a score of 271.00 points. 
 
Scouting Fordham (Men)
The Rams' men ended the 2016-17 campaign 6-2 overall with their losses coming against Boston College and La Salle.
 
Fordham returns two members of its strong freestyle core from last season: Liam Semple and Joseph Vizza. Semple won the 500- (4:42.79) and 1,000-yard freestyle (9:42.16) while Vizza excelled at the shorter distances in Fordham's last meet against Marist. Vizza took the top spots in the 100- (46.45 seconds) and 200-yard freestyle (1:42.16) in last year's meeting with the Red Foxes. He also set a new program record with a time of 4:26.02 that won him a bronze medal at the Atlantic 10 Championships.
 
Looking Ahead
The Red Foxes will travel to Rider for their second MAAC dual meet of the season. The competition will begin at 1 p.m. Oct. 28 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.