FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield University swimming & diving team will travel to New Rochelle, N.Y. to face Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Iona on Saturday, January 31 for their last regular-season meet of the year. Diving is set to start at 9am while swimming is slated for 11am at the Hynes Center Pool.
Fairfield vs. Iona: The two teams last met on February 1, 2014 when the Stags fell to the Gaels at the RecPlex Pool. The women’s team fell 171-124 while the men’s team sank 168-124.
A Look at the Gaels: The Iona women are 4-7 while the men’s team stands 2-8 this season. The men’s team posted victories over St. Francis Brooklyn and Manhattan and fell to Bryant, Army, Columbia, Seton Hall, Fordham, Saint Peter’s, Delaware, and New York University. The women’s team defeated St. Francis Brooklyn, Sacred Heart, Manhattan, and Saint Peter’s and fell to Wagner, Bryant, Army, Seton Hall, Fordham, Delaware, and New York University.
Last Time Out: The women’s swimming & diving team split during their January 26 tri-meet while the men fell to NJIT that same afternoon on Senior Day at the RecPlex Pool. The Fairfield women defeated Sacred Heart, 77-34, and fell to Central Connecticut State University, 84-29. The men were edged 132-110 by the Highlanders.
On the women’s side, Senior Meredith LaBerge posted an individual victory in the final home meet of her career. LaBerge captured the 800m freestyle event with a time of 9:34.96. She was also the runner-up in the 400m freestyle event, clocking in at 4:39.91. Rookie Sierra Weiner was the runner-up in the 100m butterfly event. Weiner earned second place points with a 1:06.95. Senior Ashlee Steinberger captured the 1-meter event with a score of 215.80 and was the runner-up on the 3-meter board posting a 245.95.
On the men’s side, junior Connor Daly posted three individual victories and broke a program record. Daly captured the 200m IM with a time of 2:10.23, breaking his own previous program record of 2:11.34 previously set on February 1, 2014. In the 100m butterfly, he clocked a 58.41 to finish first. Daly also captured the 100m breaststroke with a personal best 1:06.85. Senior Evan Barr captured the 1-meter event with a score of 266.25 while sophomore Daniel Pires was the runner-up with a 239.00. Pires captured the 3-meter event with a 265.90 while Barr was the runner-up with a 265.25.
Weekly Winner: Senior Meredith LaBerge was named the MAAC Female Swimmer of the Week after posting three individual victories and two personal bests in the two home events this past weekend. In the January 24 meet against Boston College, LaBerge captured two individual victories on the evening. She placed first in the 1500m freestyle event with a time of 18:01.85, for a personal best. She captured the 400m freestyle event, clocking a time of 4:39.65. LaBerge was also the runner-up in the 200m freestyle event with a personal best 2:14.68. In the January 26 tri-meet against Sacred Heart and Central Connecticut State University, LaBerge posted one individual victory in the final home meet of her career. She captured the 800m freestyle event with a time of 9:34.96. LaBerge was also the runner-up in the 400m freestyle event, clocking in at 4:39.91.
Looking Ahead: Saturday’s meet will be the Stags’ final regular-season competition before the 2015 MAAC Championships. The 2015 MAAC Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships will be held at the Burt Flickinger Athletic Center of Erie Community College in Buffalo, N.Y. from Wednesday, February 11 to Saturday, February 14. For tickets to the 2015 MAAC Championships, click here.
