NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - In the final regular season meet of the season, the Manhattan men's swim team was victorious over Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) rival Iona 155-125 on Monday night. Unfortunately, the women were not able to overcome and early deficit falling 169-104 to the Gaels.
For the men (9-5) they were paced to a 15-2 early after the 200 Medley Relay saw the Jaspers finish 1-2 in the event. Freshman Lance Neuendorf continued upon an impressive rookie campaign leading off his team with Dennis Daly, Scott Isaacs, and Dallan Treanor as they finished with a time of 1:38.38 seconds. Finishing exactly one second behind was the team of Cullen Balcanoff, Mike Mackay, Mickey Ruddy, and Mike Scire.
Neuendorf was instrumental in the Jaspers victory as he would go on to win three more individual events including the 100 fly, 100, and 200 backstroke. He was also able to set two new school records finishing the 100 back in 53.41 seconds, surpassing the mark set by Isaacs last year of 54.18 seconds. In the 200 back, Neuendorf's time of 1:56.76 seconds was over a second faster than the hold Manhattan record of 1:57.77 seconds set by Balcanoff in 2012.
Another key part of the Manhattan win was diver James Kelly who scored first place finishes in both the 1 meter and 3 meter events, earning the Jaspers 18 team points. Senior Robert Varieur was victorious in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:46.95 seconds and came in second in both the 50 and 100 yard free. Other winners for the Jaspers included PJ Sweeney in the 500 yard free and the team of Ryan Klages, Scire, Treanor and Varieur in the 200 freestyle relay.
As for the women (5-8), Manhattan struggled with the depth of Iona in the meet. Brianne Grant did her part to help keep Manhattan close as she placed third in the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke while also leading off the 200 freestyle relay team of Kim Geissler, Melanie Tam, and Vanessa L'Heureux. Kerry Schuermann, L'Heureux, and Holmes finished 1-2-3 in the 200 yard Individual Medley.
Both teams have now completed their dual meet seasons and will prepare for the upcoming MAAC Championships Feb., 13-17 in Buffalo, N.Y.
