October 25, 1997 - The Loyola College swimming and diving team began their 1997-98 campaign by hosting Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rival Fairfield University on Saturday. Both the Loyola men's and women's team sported a 5-0 lifetime record versus the Stags going into the meet. The Hounds continued their dominance over this slowly improving Fairfield squad on Saturday. The men began strong and won the meet won by a score of 129-97. The women started off slow, trailing going into the first diving session, but came out strong from that point on, taking the meet 140-97.
Headlining the men's performance was sophomore John Moore who broke his own school records in winning the 800 meter freestyle (8:49.43) and later the 400 meter freestyle (4:11.82). The team of Mark Gallagher, Ryan Davis, Ken Sposato and Vin Massey took the opening event, the 200 meter medley relay (1:53.37). Gallagher started his senior season off well with victories in the 50 meter freestyle (24.34) and 100 meter backstroke (1:00.58). Massey won the 200 and 100 meter freestyles with times of 2:04.11 and 56.67 respectively. Returning to the team after a year in Belgium, senior Tim Kelly swam an outstanding 100 meter breastroke, taking the race with a time of 1:09.83, a new school record. The team of Kelly, Moore, Dave Raver and Ashley Loper won the 200 meter free relay (1:43.17). Will Bryant took the one meter diving competition, qualifying for ECACs in the process. Freshmen Paul Blasucci and Andrew Conrad made nice debuts. Blasucci finished second in the 800 meter free and third in the 400 meter free. Conrad finished second in the 100 meter free and was a member of the second place 200 meter free relay.
The women had several outstanding performances including a record-breaking debut for freshman Brie Hawkins. Leading a sweep of the 200 meter free with sophomores Michelle Russo and Jenny Redfield, Hawkins swam a record time of 2:15.00. Hawkins later broke the school record for the 400 meter free, winning the event with a time of 4:41.95. Hilary Flint also had an impressive debut. Flint won the 100 meter backstroke (1:10.96). The team of Hawkins, Russo, Jen Wood, and Christine Gahagan won the 200 meter free relay. Kathleen Griffin won both of the diving competitions and also qualified for ECACs.
Click here for men's times and results.
Click here for women's times and results.
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