Swimming & Diving Opens Season Against Marist

Results | Photo Gallery

The Fordham swimming & diving team began its busy opening weekend of 2014-15 season by hosting Marist College at the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center on Thursday night.
 
The Rams earned a split in their first meet, as the women defeated the Red Foxes, 145-93, while the Fordham men were edged out by a 126-111 score.
 
The Fordham women won all 11 swimming events, led by sophomore Megan Polaha and junior Shannon Lulley with two individual wins each.  Polaha won the 200 individual medley (2:08.06) and 200 butterfly (2:02.76), while Lulley captured the 50 (24.14) and 100 (53.52) freestyle events.

 
Both Polaha and Lulley were also a part of a relay win as well.  Polaha joined Morgan Fairclough, Victoria McGovern, and Chandler Lulley to take the 400 medley relay in 3:52.11, while S. Lulley was a part of the 400 freestyle relay win with Erin McBride, Megan Zarriello, and Kalena Laurent (3:36.46).
 
Besides the relay wins, Zarriello (1000 free – 10:26.48), Laurent (200 free – 1:54.92), McBride (500 free – 5:07.99), and McGovern (200 breast – 2:25.09) each had an individual win as well.  Spencer Chappell had the remaining first place finish, taking home the 200 backstroke in 2:06.93.
 
The men's competition could have swung either way, as Fordham won six events, while taking second in four others by margins of .40, .09, .18, and . 52 seconds.
 
Junior Steve Sholdra was the top performer for the Rams, winning three individual events.  He opened the meet by winning the 1000 freestyle in 9:36.07, followed by wins in the 200 butterfly (1:50.81) and the 500 freestyle (4:39.09).
 
Freshman Liam Semple also had a solid debut for the Maroon & White, as he won the 100 (48.17) and 200 (1:43.93) freestyle events.

 
Fordham's final event win came in the 400 freestyle relay, as Zachary Miklos, Thomas Shetler, Kurtis Rossie, and J.T. Klimko posted the top time of 3:12.68.
 
The near-misses for the Rams came in the 400 medley relay, 50 freestyle, 200 backstroke, and 200 breaststroke events.  The 400 medley relay team of Klimko, Chris Viera, Thomas Gillespie, and Patrick Militti placed second in 3:31.72, just 0.40 seconds behind Marist, while Joe Mercurio was touched out by .09 seconds in the 50 freestyle (22.03).  Klimko posted a time of 1:54.08 in the 200 backstroke (.18 seconds behind first place) with Zachary Jacobsen finishing .52 seconds behind in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:14.98.
 
There won't be much rest for the Rams, as they are right back in action on Friday, October 24^th, as the team travels to Fairfield for a 5:00 PM meet.