FAIRFIELD, Conn. – After a brief road trip to Providence a week ago, the Fairfield University swimming and diving programs return to the RecPlex Pool for a dual meet this Saturday. The Stags will welcome Marist University to campus, the team's first competition against a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) school this season. The diving events will start the day at 10 am with the swimming events following at approximately 12 pm.
Head Coach
Jake Lichter looks to build on the early season success that the teams have earned through strong efforts at the Fairfield University Invitational as well as dual meets against Bryant University and Providence College. In addition to the dependability of the returning athletes, Coach Lichter has witnessed the emergence of a group of newcomers who are already making an impact.
Freshmen Natasha De Pree and
Andrew Nathe are already making contributions as illustrated by both winning their respective MAAC Rookie of the Week award for the second time earlier this week.
De Pree won three individual events (100 free, 200 free, 400 free) in addition to helping the 200 free relay. Nathe also excelled in the freestyle with a first-place finish in the 200 before taking second place in the 400 free later in the day. He also was a member of the Stags' 200 free relay first-place team.
The upperclassmen are also putting together stellar starts to the season. Junior Tone Sandsjo comes off a dual win effort at Providence, winning the 100 and 200 breaststroke, after taking first place in the 100 breast against Bryant as well as at the Fairfield Invitational. Olivia Glaser was also a double winner in the Providence meet (400 fly, 200 IM) in addition her success against Bryant one week earlier.
On the men's side, junior
Aidan Schnapf came away with first-place swims in the 800 free and the 200 back, giving him top finishes in each of the team's events this season. Junior
Andrew Cataldo swept both diving events against Providence, the same outcomes he earned at the Fairfield Invitational.
Both Marist swimming and diving opened its dual meet portion of the season with a win over Canisius University last weekend. Anna Kirby picked up first-place finishes in the 50 free and the 100 free in addition to being part of the winning 200 free relay team. Gabrielle Norton won both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events, earning MAAC Women's Diver of the Week. Oscar Bjering was a dual winner in the 200 and 500 free swims.
Following the Marist meet, the Fairfield men's and women's swimming and diving teams will make another road trip for a November 1 meeting with Fordham University.
