GENEVA, Ohio – The Fairfield University swimming and diving programs opened the 2025 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships with strong performances in the relays and 1-meter diving as the Stags competed on the first day of the four-day event.
After today's action, the Fairfield men's team leads the team competition with 77 points, slightly better than Rider University's second-place total of 60 points. The Stags women's team is tied for lead in the team standings with Niagara University, both teams registering 74 points.
The women picked up a gold medal in the first race of the championship, taking the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:40.61 to edge Niagara University. The Stags were represented by Erini Pappas, Tone Sandsjo, Lara Kisakol, and Olivia Thompson.
The men secured a fourth-place finish when they took to the water for the 200 medley relay. The Stags completed the swim in 1:28.41 with Iona University taking the top spot in 1:26.60. Fairfield's team consisted of
Max McMillan,
Enrique Garcia, Chris Dauser, and
Cormac Rouse.
Andrew Cataldo secured the top spot in men's 1-meter diving, the only individual event on opening night. He posted the high score in the preliminary round with 298.45 points before winning the event with 284.55 points in the finals. His score was 22 points better than runner-up Stavros Xantheas from Rider University, who scored 262.15 points.
Noah Duncan placed fifth in the 1-meter final with 228.0 points, followed by
Tyler Robie's sixth-place finish with 210.50 points.
The women's 800 free relay came in second behind Niagara University (7:23.19) with the Stags clocking in at 7:29.25. Fairfield's crew was comprised by Erin Hoyland, Callie Gray, Sofia Smerechniak, and Erini Pappas.
The second day of the 2025 MAAC Championship begins with preliminaries at 10 am. The day will include the 500 freestyle, the 200 IM, the 50 free, women's 3-meter diving, and the 200 freestyle. The finals for those events begin at 6 pm.
