Nov. 23, 2009

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University senior Ryan Coombs (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free Academy) and freshman Brienne Ryan (New Windsor, N.Y./Cornwall) were both honored by the Atlantic 10 Conference today with Ryan earning male Performer of the Week and Ryan female Co-Rookie of the Week honors for the week ending November 22nd. It is the second straight week that Ryan has been recognized by the A-10 as last week she was named Women's Swimming Performer & Rookie of the Week. The award is the first of the year for Coombs and marks the third time he has received Atlantic 10 Performer of the Week accolades. He also was named A-10 Rookie of the Week five times as a freshman in 2006-07.

In a tri-met sweep of Rhode Island and Duquesne on Saturday, Ryan set the 100-backstroke record for the third time this year, touching the pad in her leg of the 400 medley relay in a time of 55.76, besting her previous record of 55.84 set at the Princeton "Big Al" Open on November 13th.

Ryan also captured gold in the 50-yard freestyle (23.84) and 200-yard backstroke (2:02.65) events as Fordham earned wins over both Duquesne (161-73) and Rhode Island (162-78).

Ryan Coombs

Coombs placed first in the 200-yard butterfly against Duquesne on Saturday in a season-best time of 1:55.79 as Fordham edged the Dukes, 126.5-103.5. He also finished second in the 200-yard freestyle (1:43.86) and swam a leg of the winning 400-yard medley relay (3:28.11).

Last year, Coombs earned First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors in the 200 butterfly while also garnering Second Team All-Atlantic 10 accolades with the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays. He helped set four Fordham relay records while scoring in seven events at the Atlantic 10 Championships.

The Fordham University men's swimming and diving squad will next be in action on Monday night, November 23rd, as they host Columbia in the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center at 6:00 PM. Both the men's and women's teams will be in action on Saturday, December 5th as they host Boston College and Williams College in the Messmore Aquatics Center at 12:00 PM.