Buffalo, NY - The Rider University swimming and diving team continued a crucial stretch in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships at the Burt Flickinger Athletic Center at Eric Community College in impressive fashion with seven event wins, six by the five-time reigning MAAC champion men, and 13 top-three finishes.
The men remain in first place in the standings with one day remaining in the competition, leading second-place Marist College by 148.5 points. Canisius College is third with 336 points, Bryant is fourth with 329.5 points, and Iona College jumped Niagara University today for fifth place with 274 points. Marist leads the women's side by 123 points over the second-place Broncs, while Canisius is in third place with 387 points. Iona is in fourth with 345 points and Fairfield University hopped Niagara for fifth with 227 points.
The men were led once again by junior Zack Molloy (Toms River, NJ/Toms River HS North), who broke his own Rider and MAAC records by over two seconds (1:34.84) and claimed an NCAA B Cut time in the 200 free win. Older brother William Molloy (Toms River, NJ/Toms River HS North) took second (1:39.51), sophomore Vincent Gibbons (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) claimed third (1:40.00), and senior Michael Regan (Flower Mound, TX/Flower Mound) staked fourth (1:40.97).
Another Rider-dominated event was the 100 butterfly, where freshman Justin Carey (Landenberg, PA/Avon Grove) raced to a win in 48.70 seconds. Junior Maciej Paz (Garfield, NJ/Paramus Catholic) took third (49.44) and senior Matthan-Matthew Martir (Severn, MD/Old Mill) had a fourth place finish (49.82).
For the Rider women, the 400 medley relay team of senior Ariana Palmer (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township), senior Jacquelynn Parker (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough), junior Julianna Runk (Baltimore, MD/Perry Hall), and sophomore Taylor Stalnaker (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) won with a time of 3:53.10. Stalnaker also took second (57.61) in the 100 back while freshman Natalie Carter (Yucaipa, CA/Riverside City/Yucaipa) claimed third (57.92).
Also for the men, senior Sam Cramer (Escondido, CA/San Pasqual) set a new Rider record in his 1000 free-winning performance (9:13.67). Sophomore Lucas Musselman (Timonium, MD/Loyola Blakefield) won the 400 individual medley for the second straight year (3:56.67). Carey continued his winning ways with a MAAC and Rider record 48.70 seconds in the 100 back. The 400 medley relay team of Carey, Gibbons, senior Zach Mabin (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert), and Martir became victorious with a time of 3:19.38.
The Rider men continue their journey towards a sixth consecutive MAAC title and seventh overall while the women fight for their fourth overall title in the MAAC, which would end an eight year drought. The women have finished second 14 times in the last 19 seasons.
The final day of the MAAC Championships starts on Saturday, February 11, with preliminary action beginning at 10:00 am.
Men's Standings: Women's Standings:
1. Rider 585.5 1. Marist 532
2. Marist 437 2. Rider 409
3. Canisius 336 3. Canisius 387
4. Bryant 329.5 4. Iona 345
5. Iona 274 5. Fairfield 227
6. Niagara 266 6. Niagara 220
7. Saint Peter's 166 7. Siena 186
8. Manhattan 141.5 8. Manhattan 153
9. Fairfield 134.5 9. Monmouth 88
10. Monmouth 73 10. Saint Peter's 44
