FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University men's and women's swimming teams opened their part of the 2025 Fairfield Invitational in dominant fashion, winning 25 of the 32 events this afternoon. The Stags swept the top three spots in 11 events en route to winning the men's and women's overall scoring.
The women's team scored 736 team points to lead the five-team field with Southern Connecticut State University registering 403 points followed by the University of Bridgeport (206 points), Manhattan University (111 points), and Sacred Heart University (80 points).
The men's team posted 707 points to take the top spot ahead of Bridgeport (481 points), Southern Connecticut (246 points), and Manhattan (137 points).
Natasha De Pree broke the school record in the 800 SCM Freestyle with a time of 9:06.91 while
Balazs Ament set the school standard in the 200 SCM Breaststroke by completing the distance in 2:17.66
The Stags took the top three spots in the women's 100 backstroke with Ayra Christie (1:04.74), Chloe Wukitch (1:07.02), and Aimee Quinlan (1:07.79) representing the team. In the women's 50 free, Rylie Bauman (27.46), Allie Bashor (27.67), and Holly Rahurahu (28.14) secured first, second, and third respectively.
Both teams swept three places in the 200 back with Katie Torrey (1:07.95), Wukitch (1:09.52), and Quinlan (2:24.62) securing the finishes. On the men's side,
Jack Behm (2:08.07),
Oliver McLaughlin (2:10.69) and
Will Landon (2:10.78) also accomplished the task in the event.
The 200 fly had a similar result for Fairfield with Briana Racanello touching the wall first with a time of 2:26.31, followed by Callie Gray (2:27.56), and Olivia Glaser (2:29.16). In the 200 breast, Balazs paced the field with his time of 2:17.66 while
Ryan Schuller (2:25.80), and Tommy Yaegel (2:28.77) also placed for the Stags.
The women were next on the docket with their sweep of the 400 free as Sofia Smerechniak (4:36.41), Olivia Glaser (4:40.31), and Ella Lepis (4:44.66) were responsible for the scoring. The 100 fly saw Christie, Lara Kisakol (1:06.99), and Lauren Patalano (1:07.31) set the pace for Fairfield.
In the 200 IM, Torrey (2:25.52), Riley Edge (2:26.02), and Bashor (2:27.84) took the top three spots for the Stags. The men's team also touched the wall for the top three spots behind
Bobby Regan (2:08.55), Landon (2:12.66), and
James Robinson (2:12.75).
The Stags also secured first place swims from Smerechniak in the 200 free (2:10.26), Ament in the 200 free (1:54.26), Tone Sandsjo in the 100 breast (1:12.15), Regan in the 100 breast (1:05.34), Robinson in the 200 fly (2:08.19),
Andrew Nathe in the 50 free (23.42), De Pree in the 100 free (59.28), and Nathe in the 100 free (53.13).
The relay teams also took first place in each of its races beginning with the 200 medley relay. Torrey, Sandsjo, Bashor, and Bauman combined for a winning time of 1:58.06 while
Oliver McLaughlin,
Bobby Regan,
Tim Regan, and
Cormac Rouse put forth a top time of 1:44.25 in the event.
In the 400 free relay, Christie, De Pree, Patalano, and Smerechniak worked together for a first-place swim in 4:03.31 while
Tim Regan,
Aidan Schnapf, Nathe, and Rouse were responsible for the best time of 3:27.58 in the event.
The Fairfield University men's and women's swimming and diving teams will return to the pool on Saturday October 11 when they host Bryant University with diving beginning at 10 am and swimming commencing at 12 pm.
