Photo by: Frank Poulin
Photo by: Frank Poulin
Posted: Feb 17, 2019

Bulldogs finish second at MAACs

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Graduate student Micah Ornelas (San Diego, Calif.) set another meet record and senior Tavish Boyle (Springfield, N.J.) closed out his career in style as both helped the Bryant University men's swimming and diving team finish second at the 2019 MAAC Swimming and Diving Championships.

Bryant's second-place finish is the best in program history, while its 542 total points shattered the best total in school history. Marist finished first with 781 points.  

Coach Cameron's Comments

"What can I say, it's an AMAZING DAY TO BE A BULLDOG! Both the men and women had incredible weekends. The numbers speak for themselves. I'm so proud of every member of our program. I'm excited for Jillian and Micah – who are both very deserving of the honor of swimmer of the meet. I'm proud of the women for repeating and the men for the highest finish ever! Hard work always pays off! Go Bulldogs!"

Saturday Highlights

  • Ornelas capped off one of the greatest performances in Bryant program history with another meet record and NCAA 'B' cut. He won the 200 fly by nearly two seconds, breaking his own school record with a time of 1:45.88.
  • Boyle put the finishing touches on a memorable career by grabbing his second individual gold medal of the week. He won the 200 breast with a time of 1:58.62, breaking the 2:00 mark for the first time in his storied career.
  • Robert Davis (Glastonbury, Conn.) also picked up a medal on Saturday as he absolutely demolished the program record in the 1650 free. He finished second with a time of 15:45.19, breaking the school record by 14 seconds. He's the only swimmer to ever swim under 15:50 in program history.
  • Matthew Mays (St. Croix, Virgin Islands) capped another strong meet with a bronze medal in the 200 back. He broke his own school record by over a second.
  • Bryant's 400 free relay closed the meet with another school record and a silver medal. Ornelas, Mays, Matthew Mastroianni (Glastonbury, Conn.) and Matt Zichelli (Glen Ridge, N.J.) finished with a time of 3:01.68, breaking the school record that was set last year.  

Notes and Notables

  • Bryant set 11 school records, five conference records, won two relay golds and five individual golds on the week.
  • It is the first time Bryant has finished as high as second in program history.
  • Ornelas set three MAAC records and also posted three NCAA 'B' cut times on his way to MAAC Swimmer of the Meet honors.
  • He becomes the second Bulldog to win MAAC Swimmer of the Meet honors, joining Ben Schulte in 2015.  
  • He finished the meet with three individual gold medals, two relay gold medals and seven total medals.
  • Boyle wrapped up his career with two individual gold medals and nine medals overall.
  • Freshman diver Evan Clark (Doylestown, Pa.) was named the MAAC Rookie Diver of the Meet. He finished 10th in the 1-meter dive and then won the 'B' final in the 3-meter dive.