The men's and women's swimming and diving teams started their winter season with huge wins as they blew Montclair State University out of the water this past Friday.
The men's team took down the Red Hawks 131-89, while the women's team was an even bigger winner with a 161-70 score. Both teams start their winter season at 1-0.
"Our expectations are always high," sophomore Ted Yoa said. "A lot of guys will be looking forward to (the NCAA Tournament)."
On the women's side, standout junior Ava Kiss placed first in three events as she dominated the competition in both the 200-individual medley (2:16.48) and the 100-freestyle (55.44).
Kiss was also a crucial link in the first-place 400-medley relay team. Kiss joined with junior Christine Marino, sophomore Emily Reichard and sophomore anchor Brittany Collyer to take the medley in a time of 4:13.78.
Marino also placed first in the 200-backstroke in 2:20.40, and Collyer took first in the 50-freestyle in 25.82.
Junior Stefanie Rashti picked up two first-place wins for the Lions, capturing the 200-freestyle in 2:04.97 and the 200-butterfly in 2:17.80.
Freshman Stephanie Seto also brought home two wins for the Lions as she took the 500-freestyle in 5:34.09 and the 1,000-freestyle in 11:30.21.
In diving, senior Lee Swanson swept the competition in the one-meter events, posting scores of 164.70 and 244.73 to get first in each contest.
For the men's team, Yoa was the big winner for the Lions as he tallied three first place finishes in three different events.
"It's always a good feeling when you know that you're helping the team," Yoa said.
Yoa swam a 2:17.59 in the 200-breaststroke and a 2:05.67 200-individual medley to place first in both events. Joining sophomore Tom Nawrot, junior Josh Forsman and junior John Altobelli, the Lions also placed first in the 400-medley relay with a time of 3:40.81.
"It's always good to start out with a win," Nawrot said. "It helps build our confidence for the rest of the season. We expect to have another successful season."
Nawrot went on to place first in the 100-freestyle with a time of 49.28, while sophomore Mike Molloy was a double winner, registering times of 1:47.59 and 2:02.71 in the 200-freestyle and the 200-backstroke, respectively.
"We look good so far, just where we should be given the hard training we're in right now," Nawrot said. "I think we can win the Conference and improve our standing at Nationals."
Sophomore Mike Heaney showed his endurance as he placed first in the 1000-freestyle with a time of 10:33.97.
"It's not going to be easy, but we're really working our aerobic core training now," Nawrot said.
In men's diving, the Lions took two first place finishes as sophomore Greg Lloyd posted scores of 164.48 and 314.85 in the one-meter events to help complete the win over the Red Hawks.
"This is only the beginning," Nawrot said. "We're working hard and we all know that (head coach Brian) Bishop's training is meant to make us faster."
The teams will visit Franklin & Marshall College on Nov. 5.
