GENEVA, Ohio – The relay teams provided a quick start for the Fairfield University swimming and diving teams as the Stags opened the 2026 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships. The women's 200 medley relay team and the men's 800 freestyle relay squad both brought home gold to post points in the standings.
After the first day, the men's team holds down second place with 116 points, just a couple of points off Iona University's top score of 118. The women's program will enter the second day in fourth place with 141 team points as Marist occupies the top spot with 207 points.
The women's 200 medley relay opened the championship competition and the Stags edged out Niagara University with a time of 1:41.22. Holly Rahurahu started the relay for Fairfield and was followed by Tone Sandsjo, Allie Bashor, and Rylie Bauman. The men's foursome held a three-second edge over second-place Saint Peter's University in the 800 freestyle relay behind the efforts of
Tim Regan, Jochi Nolla,
Balazs Ament, and
Aidan Schnapf as the group set a school standard of 6:30.60.
The women's 800 freestyle relay garnered second place with a school record time of 7:23.29, trailing only Niagara University's winning time of 7:21.72. The Stags group consisted of Natasha De Pree, Sofia Smerechniak, Isla Bartholomew, and Callie Gray. On the men's side,
Max McMillan, Ament,
Tim Regan, and
Cormac Rouse combined for fourth place by finishing the 200 medley relay in 1:28.96. Iona University posted the best time of 1:26.89 for the top spot.
The women's divers also took to the board this evening with three Fairfield student-athletes taking spots in the C final. Lillian Tonole was the top finisher in the C final with 175.30 points while Jade Leblic was next with 171.95 points. Alexandra Rebeck posted the fourth-best total in the C final with 157.40 points.
Day 2 of the 2026 MAAC Championships commences on Thursday morning at 9:30 am with the finals starting at 5:30 pm. The student-athletes will compete in the 500 freestyle, the 200 IM, the 50 free, and the men's 3 meter diving.
