Xavier University
BIG EAST Championship
Men's Swimming Repeats as BIG EAST Champions
02.22.15 | Swimming
Day Four Results | 2015 BIG EAST Results | Photo Gallery
ITHACA, N.Y. - The Xavier men's swimming program is two-for-two, repeating its success from Xavier's first BIG EAST season by winning the BIG EAST Conference championship. The women's team also performed strong, bringing home third place from BIG EAST Championship, held at Ithaca College from February 18 to 21.
After finishing the first day in third place, the Xavier men came away from day two with a convincing lead that was never threatened, scoring 904 points over four days. The Georgetown Hoyas placed second with 736.5 points.
The Musketeer men used a balanced effort, led by the men's BIG EAST Most Outstanding Swimmer Nick Foster who scored 56 individual points for the Xavier men and won two individual gold medals.
The final session started off with the second of Foster's gold when he repeated as BIG EAST Champion in the 1,650 free with a time of 15:45.07. Kiernan McGeehan added to the scoring effort in the mile, placing fifth with a time of 16:00.56. Nick Strader also finished in the top eight with a time of 16:02.89.
Last year's silver medalist in the 200 backstroke became the BIG EAST Champion when Arthur Smith touched the wall in a time of 1:48.49, upping his personal record that stands as second-best in school history. Rodrigo Suriano claimed third with a time of 1:50.24.
In the 100 freestyle, Luke Johanns set a new school record and repeated as BIG EAST Champion with his second gold medal of the meet with a time of 44.40. Armando Moss placed second, and now holds the second fastest time in Xavier history, touching the wall in a time of 44.80. Will Oswald also scored for the Musketeers, placing fourth with a time of 46.14.
Michael Gordon led the Musketeers in the 200 breaststroke, taking fourth with a time of 2:05.60. Rob Van Kirk placed six with a time of 2:05.71, tied for fourth fastest in Xavier history. Dirvin followed Van Kirk in with a time of 2:07.27, the eight fastest time in XU records.
Erik Biernat led three Musketeers who competed in the championship final of the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:51.93 to take third place. Gage Mitchell followed him in fourth place with a time of 1:52.85.
Alex Wolfred also competed in the championship heat, taking eighth after setting the 12th best time in Xavier history in the preliminaries, 1:55.33.
The men closed out the event by setting the first sub-three minute 400 free relay time. Suriano, Oswald, Johanns and Moss finished the final race of the meet in a time of 2:59.17, taking first and setting a new school record.
Brent MacDonald was named men's BIG EAST Coach of the Year for the second straight year, tying in the voting with Jamie Holder from Georgetown.
On the women's side, the Musketeers came away from day one just 14 points behind defending champions Villanova. Paxtyn Drew added a BIG EAST championship for the Musketeers, who totaled 555 points through four days to take third, behind only Villanova and Georgetown.
Saturday's finals led off with the 1,650 freestyle where Mackenna Rife led the trio of Musketeers, taking fifth with a time of 17:09.00. Emily Wagner scored for Xavier, placing seventh and setting a new personal best time of 17:29.43, the fifth fastest time in XU history. Taylor Jach placed ninth, setting a new personal record and the seventh fastest time in Xavier history.
In the 200 backstroke, Paxtyn Drew took second place with a time of 2:01.37. Drew's time in the finals stands as third fastest in Musketeer history topping the time of 2:02.02 she set in the preliminary heat. Carolyn Stewart took third with a time of 2:01.70. Jacquelyn Misanik placed fourth in a time of 2:02.64, just edging out her personal best time of 2:02.65, set in preliminaries, which is fourth in XU history.
In the 100 freestyle, Molly Kroeger competed in the championship heat, taking fifth with at time of 51.56, topping her previous record time of 51.60, the second fastest time in school history. In the B- final, Molly Ford set a new personal record 53.31, 11th fastest in school history, after entering the Xavier record books at 18th earlier in the day with a time of 53.67.
During the preliminaries for the 200 breast Hanna Martin qualified for the the championship heat with a time of 2:24.06, which is fourth best in Xavier history. In the final, Martin finished fifth with a time of 2:25.26. Haley Dresner also scored for the Musketeers, taking eighth with at time of 2:26.15.
In the preliminaries for the 200 breaststroke, Mikaela Saugstad qualified for the B-cut final with a time of 2:28.40, 14th best in XU history. She topped that in the finals, taking the top spot in the B- final with a time of 2:27.05, moving Saugstad up to 13th.
The women closed out the night by setting a new school record in the 4x100 freestyle relay. Kroeger, Day, Drew and Stewart finished the 400 free relay in a time of3:27.85.
Men's Scores
1. Xavier University 904
2. Georgetown University 763
3. Seton Hall University 690
4. Villanova University 416
5. Providence College 220
Women's Scores
1. Villanova University 957.5
2. Georgetown University 736.5
3. Xavier University 555
4. Seton Hall University 472
5. Providence College 207
6. Butler University 187
Players Mentioned
