FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University swimming and diving teams will begin their quest for a conference title on Wednesday when the programs travel to Buffalo for the 2022 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships. With the 2020-21 MAAC Championship cancelled due to Covid-19, the Fairfield women's team is the defending champion after winning its third straight MAAC title in 2019-20.

              This year, both the men's and women's teams are prepared to make a run at the championship after putting in successful dual meet performances. The men's team won its last six dual meets in addition to taking first place in the season-opening Fairfield Invitational. The women's team also captured the top spot in the Fairfield Invitational which propelled the squad to five more dual meet wins. With that kind of success already in hand, Head Coach Anthony Bruno looks to bring that experience into this week's action.

              "We've never been closer as a group – swimmers, divers, men and women," Coach Bruno said. "The focus is there and the preparation over the last two weeks has been on point. We are ready to go."

              A big part of the team's success has been the emergence of the diving program which includes several divers who collected weekly accolades from the conference. Dillon O'Connor and Samuel Tonole secured the Diver of the Week award on the men's side while Alexis Gaulin captured the accolade on the women's side. Mix in the senior leadership of Caitlin Campbell, Erin Wind, and Lukas Stanton and fans can quickly see when Coach Bruno sees the divers playing a role in the teams making any claim to a title this weekend.

              "Look for our divers to play a significant role this week," Coach Bruno said. "Coach Devon O'Naulty has that group ready to perform at a high level. We have a great blend of upperclassmen and first year divers that will all contribute."

              That blend of upperclassmen and newcomers also stands for swimming events this year. The Stags have made their mark in 2021-22 behind the efforts of a strong group of seniors that have set the standard for the newcomers, a challenge which the first-year swimmers have gladly accepted.

              "On the men's side, keep an eye on Alex Belfer, Even Fair, Peter Gori, Ed Hunt, and Joseph Stewart," Coach Bruno said. "On the women's side, Shannon Feeley and Maddie Mowad will play a big role leading as upperclassmen. Erini Pappas, Sydney Scalise, and Alison Sposili will add to a strong underclassmen unit."

              But Coach Bruno knows that individuals do not win a championship. A title takes a collective effort and he believes that the collective is ready to make a run this week in Buffalo.

              "We certainly have men and women that will be stars this week," Coach Bruno said. "However, we are committed to a total team goal above all else. I am looking forward to a competitive week of racing and diving."
 
                                                                       2021-22 MAAC Swimming and Diving Championship Schedule
 
 

Session	Date	Start Time
I	Wednesday, February 9	3 p.m.
II	Thursday, February 10	10 a.m.
III	Thursday, February 10	6 p.m.
IV	Friday, February 11	10 a.m.
V	Friday, February 11	6 p.m.
VI	Saturday, February 12	10 a.m.
VII	Saturday, February 12	6 p.m.

 
Full Schedule of Events:
 

Wednesday, February 9
Event #	Name of Event
1	W - 200 Med Relay
2	M - 200 Med Relay
3	W – 1M Diving
4	W – 800 Free Relay
5	M – 800 Free Relay

 

Thursday, February 10
Event #	Name of Event
6	W – 500 Free
7	M – 500 Free
8	W – 200 IM
9	M -200 IM
10	W – 50 Free
11	M – 50 Free
12	M – 3M Diving
13	W – 200 Free Relay
14	M – 200 Free Relay

 

Friday, February 11
Event #	Name of Event
15	W – 400 IM
16	M – 400 IM
17	W – 100 Fly
18	M – 100 Fly
19	W – 200 Free
20	M – 200 Free
21	W – 100 Breast
22	M – 100 Breast
23	W – 100 Back
24	M – 100 Back
25	W – 3M Diving
26	W – 400 Med Relay
27	M – 400 Med Relay

 

Saturday, February 12
Event #	Name of Event
28	W – 1650 Free
29	M – 1650 Free
30	W – 200 Back
31	M – 200 Back
32	W – 100 Free
33	M – 100 Free
34	W – 200 Breast
35	M – 200 Breast
36	W – 200 Fly
37	M – 200 Fly
38	M – 1M Diving
39	W – 400 Free Relay
40	M – 400 Free Relay