Oct. 6, 2010
BALTIMORE - The Loyola University Maryland swimming and diving teams get their 2010-2011 season underway on Saturday when the Greyhounds travel to Fairfax, Va., to face the U.S. Naval Academy and host George Mason University.
The three programs compete annually in a tri-meet with last year's event taking place in Annapolis. Loyola's men and women lost to both George Mason and Navy in 2009.
"I am looking forward to getting the season underway," Head Coach Brian Loeffler said. "This will be the first time we have competed at George Mason. They have hosted the (Colonial Athletic Association Championships) for several years, so I anticipate a great facility with some very fast times."
Navy's men and women both won the Patriot League titles last season, and George Mason's men took second in the CAA, while its women were fifth.
Loyola's men will begin their quest for a third-straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title. Last year, the Greyhounds won their second in a row by almost 80 points over their nearest competitor. The Loyola women took fourth at last year's MAAC meet.
Brennan Morris, now a sophomore, was the MAAC Men's Most Outstanding Swimmer after setting four MAAC Championships records and winning three individual events at the meet. Last year, Morris also became the first swimmer in Loyola history to earn an NCAA `B' Qualifying Standard.
Also back for the Greyhounds men's team in 2010-2011 are several swimmers who won individual events or were on relay teams that took first at the MAAC Championships, including Sam McQuaid, Ozzy Torres, Jacob Drannan, Colin Chenet and Jeffrey Rowe.
On the women's side, Courtney Trivino, now a junior, returns to the pool for Loyola after winning two MAAC titles last year.
She heads a strong core of veteran swimmers with the likes of Caitlin Cassidy, Lauren Mari, Mary Henkels, Nicole Romano, Carissa McStay who were finalists at the MAAC Championships last year.
The Greyhounds host their annual Alumni Meet on Saturday, October 23, at 1 p.m., and they host their first home intercollegiate meet of the season at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 30, when Drexel, Lafayette and Seton Hall come to the Mangione Aquatic Center.
