College Swimming and Diving
ECAC Championships
After Day One Men Second, Women Fourth
Cavallaro Wins Three Meter Dive

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Rider University men's and women's swimming and diving teams competed Friday afternoon on day one of Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships, held at the Trees Pool facility. "We did well," said head coach Steve Fletcher.  "The team is responding well to another week of rest.  They seem to be getting faster with each race."
 
For the Rider men, junior Brendan Cavallaro (Middleboro, Mass./Middleboro) won the three meter dive (319.75), sophomore Johnny Funk (Las Vegas, Nev./Southeast Career & Tech. Acad.) placed third in the 200 IM (1:51.28) and sophomore Brian Molloy (Toms River/Toms River HS East) placed fourth in the 500 free (4:36.27)

For the Rider women, senior Aisley Carter (Clarksburg, Md. (Walter Johnson) was fifth in the one-meter dive (207.15) and senior Alicia Fimple (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) placed sixth in the 200 IM (2:07.89).

Also for the Rider men, freshman Nikolas Esposito (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) placed fourth in the three meter dive (280.60), senior Tom Smallwood (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) placed fifth in the three meter dive (257.05) and senior Ryan Nelthropp (Christiansted, V.I./St. Croix Country Day) placed sixth in the 500 free (4:36.64).

"We were really excited to get Ryan Nelthropp in the finals of the 500m," said Fletcher.  "That is only the second time he has done that event for us in his four year career.  That is pretty impressive.  Taking top eight was very impressive."

In the 400 medley relay Funk, sophomore Kyle Grosman (Green Pond/Morris Knolls), Nelthropp, and Molloy finished sixth with a time of 3:27.60.

Also for the Rider women, freshman Melanie Leonhard (Piscataway) placed seventh in the 500 free (4:58.35) and sophomore Addie Oswald (Henderson, Nev./Green Valley) placed eighth in the 500 free (4:59.43)

The 200 free relay of Fimple, sophomore Stephanie Anderer (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown HS East), freshman Danielle Warwick (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales Academy) and senior Brianna Burns (Chestnut Ridge, N.Y./Spring Valley) finished fourth with a time of 1:39.02.

The 400 medley relay of junior Kori Kraus (Mays Landing/St. Joseph's), sophomore Kelly O'Connor (Beverly, Mass./Beverly), junior Kelly Fleagle (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) and Oswald finished seventh with a time of 3:58.32.

The competition continues tomorrow, Saturday February 26 at 11 am.

"The deal with this meet is that our athletes will get faster with each swim," Fletcher said.  "We are in a good spot as a team.  We are racing well and I know with each swim we will get better.  Coming off a physically and emotionally draining meet, the conference championships, it was tough to get going, but we are working the kinks out and getting better."

 
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