YORK, Pa. – First year
Sean Lehan's distance swimming aid a second overall finish at MAC Championships to cap off an undefeated season.
The Pride swam to 1424 points and placed second out of 11 teams.
OF NOTE
For the second straight year, Head Men's and Women's Swimming Coach
Mark Yankovich was named Men's Coach of the Year. "It was an honor to have our team recognized for this award," said Yankovich. "It took dedication from each one and all of our staff to have a great season and championship. Being able to see all the team's hard work pay off was rewarding for them and the coaching staff."
First year
Sean Lehan was named Rookie of the Year after his two recording breaking distance races.
DAY 1 – THURSDAY (285 Total Points | 2nd Place)
- First year Sean Lehan dominated 500-yard freestyle with a first place, Widener record, and personal best 4:37.41. Lehan would go on to better his preliminary swim of 4:40.06 from the morning.
- The B-Final of the 500-yard freestyle showed Adam Bailey placed 15th with a 5:04.80 after a morning swim of a 5:03.42.
- The 200-yard individual medley featured Jason Mongiovi would qualify for the Championship Final along with Patrick Rankin. Mongiovi swam a personal best 1:55.38 while Rankin clocked in a 2:00.11.
- Seth Phillips' 200IM showed a 2:01.09 for a third-place overall finish in the consolation heat. Patrick Rauch clocked in a 2:02.64 for a new personal best.
- In the 50-yard freestyle, the Pride would put two in the Championship Final. Alex Chan took third overall with a 21.39 while Kyle Cantrell took fourth with a 21.45.
- The B of the 50-yard freestyle would show a second-place finish from Zach Delgado (22.06), a fourth finish from Joshua Cunningham (22.26), and a sixth-place finish from Shane Douthit (22.30).
- The Pride captured a third overall finish in the 200-yard medley relay. The quad of Matthew Niro, Dan Jackson, Chan, and Cantrell would clock in a 1:34.30 behind York and Stevens.
DAY 2 – FRIDAY (762 Total Points | 2nd Place)
- The Pride began with a third overall finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay that would show 1:25.84 from Chan, Cantrell, Zach Delgado, and Cunningham.
- Day two individual finals would be splashed with a Pride stacked Championship Final in the 400-yard individual medley. Mongiovi defended his title with a 4:07.44 to win by three seconds. Phillips would place fifth overall with a 4:18.23 while Rankin placed just behind with a 4:18.47 and Adam Bailey snuck in with a 4:31.54.
- Another stacked Championship Final in the 100-yard butterfly showcased a silver from Chan with a 50.56 for a new personal best. Niro took third with a 51.09 for a seven second personal best and Cunningham took 8th with a 52.84.
- The B-Final showcased Delgado who would clock in a 53.52. to take fourth and in the Bonus Final Shane Hubbard snuck into fourth with a 54.60.
- Jackson captured first overall in the 200-yard freestyle with a 1:41.47 to win by a second for huge Pride points. Lehan took third with a 1:43.64, a new personal best. Douthit's 1:45.78 preliminary swim would secure a spot in the Championship Final where he would go a 1:52.86 at night.
- The Pride capped off the evening finals session with Niro, Jackson, Chan, and Cantrell taking third in the 400-yard medley relay. The four would capture a 3:26.18 for a podium finish.
DAY 3 – SATURDAY (1083 Total Points | 2nd Place)
- A Pride heavy Championship Final in the 200-yard butterfly would kick off the Saturday finals session. Chan would take home a bronze with a 1:55.64, dropping two seconds from his preliminary swim. Mongiovi would come in at a 1:56.21 and Cunningham bettered his prelims time with a 2:00.64.
- The men's 100-yard backstroke showcased top times and the 2024 champion Niro. Niro would finish fourth with a 52.14 to shave a second off his time from the morning. Rauch would also see the night swim and went on to clock a 54.63.
- The Consolation Final showed a first-place finish from Cantrell who won by a second with a 54.24. Isaiah Moreef would register a 56.71, bettering his morning swim by a second and Bryce Garber doing the same with his 57.33.
- Jackson took home a bronze in the 100-yard breaststroke an event later. A 57.91 from Jackson would shave off .10 from the am swim.
- The B-Final saw back-to-back Pride finishes with Michael Machristie punching a 1:01.54 and Shane Hubbard hitting the wall in a 1:02.13. The C-Final showed Marcus Moreef touching in a 1:04.62.
- The final relay event of the evening would come in the 800-yard freestyle relay where Jackson, Douthit, Mongiovi, and Lehan dominated the field for a gold medal finish. The quad would win by eight seconds with a 6:56.18.
- Widener's B squad of Seth Phillips, Rankin, Adam Bailey, and Rauch saw a second-place finish in the B grouping with a 7:16.06.
DAY 4 – SUNDAY (1424 Total Points | 2nd Place)
- Sunday finals were kicked off with a shattered Widener record in the 1650-yard freestyle from Lehan. Lehan would dominate the race to win by 40 seconds with a 16:03.25, just missing the conference record.
- A fast Championship Final in the 100-yard freestyle would feature Cantrell who took time off his morning swim to clock a 46.24, snagging a silver medal. Douthit registered a 49.96.
- Delgado swam in a 49.42 after a morning swim of a 49.01.
- M. Moreef saw a third-place finish in the C-Final with a 50.50 to drop a second from his morning swim.
- The Championship Final of the 200-yard backstroke showed a sixth and eight place finish from Niro and Rauch. Niro would lead with a 1:56.15 while Rauch touched in a 1:57.69, both taking time off from the morning.
- Rankin capped off his individual racing with a third in the B-Final with a 2:01.20 and I. Moreef (2:04.21) did the same in the C-Final with a win while Garber (1:07.83) took third.
- Jackson defended his title in the 200-yard breaststroke with a 2:05.28 and gold medal. Machristie saw a 2:13.83 to end his meet. In the consolation heat, Hubbard and Phillips would cap off their swimming with a 2:16.17 and 2:17.29 respectively.
