RIVERDALE, N.Y. - In their final competition of the 2013 calendar year, the Manhattan men used an impressive team effort to sweep both Montclair State and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) rival Saint Peter's. Unfortunatley, the Jasper women would not fare as well, falling in both contests.
The men defeated Montclair State handily, 121-82, but needed a victory in the final event of the night to beat Saint Peter's 101-100. That depth proved its worth early on with the Jaspers taking first and third in the 200 medley relay. The team of Lance Neuendorf, Mike Mackay, Christopher Reyes, and Ryan Klages took the top spot with a time of 1:39.14 seconds while Scott Isaacs, Dennis Daly, Thomas Dougherty, and Michael Dalia placed third.
Competition was fierce on the men's side as the Jaspers battled hard for points throughout. Klages was able to pick up a valuable win in the 50 free with a time of 22.55 seconds. Manhattan would pick up key points from Neundorf, Mackay and Dallan Treanor who were able to finish in the top-3 in multiple events.
Due to points, the Jaspers (7-2) had their meet with the Redhawks locked up going into the final event, the 200 free relay. However, they trailed Saint Peter's by eight points and need not only a victory, but some help as well. Rich Llewellyn, PJ Sweeney, Reyes and Trenor did their part with a time of 1:30.98, touching the wall just a second ahead of Montclair State.
The women (1-7) were not as fortunate falling 150-53 to Saint Peter's, and 131-72 to Montclair State. They did get a strong effort once again in the relays, taking third in the 200 medley. Madison Brown, Vanessa L'Heureux, Kerry Schuermann and Sara Buckley earned a third place finish with a time of 1:58.93 and were narrowly edged by Saint Peter's who finished with a time of 1:58.78 seconds.
Paige Raccioppi took fourth in the 200 free and third in the 500 free to help pick up some points while Colton placed second in the 50 free and fourth in the 100 free with a time of 57.66 seconds. Schuermann was also key for Manhattan as she earned a third place finish in the 100 backstroke (1:06.13 seconds).
Michaela Schatz, Colton, Kim Geissler and Raccioppi concluded the meet with a third place finish in the 200 free relay. The Jaspers quartet of Molly Russell, Abagail Dempsey, Melanie Tam and Lindsie Holmes followed in fourth to add to the teams point total.
Colton earned "Performer of the Meet" honors for the women while Dalia, Gilliland and Nick Delpino shared the award on the men's side. Delpino was crucial for the men in helping to pick up multiple fringe points throughout the meet.
Manhattan is back in the pool on Jan., 9 as they travel to Miami, Fla. to take on Texas Christian Universtiy (TCU) on the campus of Florida International University (FIU).
