NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — The NJIT men's swimming and diving team started the 2023-24 campaign in style with a 176-117 victory over the Iona Gaels Friday evening at the Hynes Center Pool.

"Overall, today was a great team win for us. We swam against a very good Iona team and won a number of close races to pull out a tough win," head coach Ron Farina said after the season debut triumph.

HIGHLANDER VICTORIES

• Francois Malherbe: 50 Free (20.56), 100 Free (44.53*), 100 Fly (49.43) 
• Bartosz Bryg: 100 Breast (58.72), 200 Breast (2:08.22)
• Laith Sabbah: 200 Free (1:41.05), 500 Free (4:39.68)
• Aiden Ban: 1 Meter Diving (170.10), 3 Meter Diving (157.85)
• Sam Deemer: 200 Fly (1:55.59), 200 Back (1:51.26)
• Keegan Wooding: 1000 Free (9:54.54)
• Aidan Blackmon/Matthew Bevan/Ian Horstkamp-Vinekar/Laith Sabbah (1:33.77)

* new school record

OTHER TOP FIVES

• Oxford Bayley: 1000 Free (9:56.98; 2nd); 500 Free (4:58.34; 5th)
• Matthew Bevan: 100 Breast (58.86; 2nd), 200 Breast (2:13.22; 2nd)
• Dylan Ostolaza: 100 Back (52.46; T-2nd), 200 Back (1:57.55; 5th)
• Zac Kuzak: 100 Free (48.96; 2nd) and 200 Free (1:46.59; 3rd)
• Aidan Blackmon: 100 Back (52.46; T-2nd)
• Kristopher Fritsch: 1 Meter Diving (117.85; 3rd) and 3 Meter Diving (113.30; 3rd)
• Sam Deemer/Bartosz Bryg/Mizell McEachin/Dylan Ostolaza: 200 Medley Relay (1:36.45; 3rd)
• Mizell McEachin: 100 Fly (53.43; 4th), 200 Fly (2:06.40; 5th)
• Ryan Hause: 200 Fly (2:02.04; 4th), 100 Free (49.21; 4th)
• Michael Schober: 200 Breast (2:23.59; 4th), 100 Breast (1:03.85; 5th)
• Reilly Vann: 1 Meter Diving (72.15; 4th)
• Michael McGillycuddy: 200 Back (1:57.43; 4th)
• Ian Horstkamp-Vinekar: 100 Back (53.15; 4th)
• Keegan Wooding: 500 Free (4:53.70; 4th)
• Hirad Sharifian: 50 Free (22.45; 4th)
• Jamar Josephs: 100 Fly (54.20; 5th)
• Ryan Hause/Michael Schober/Vigo Munitic/Michael McGillycuddy (1:39.77; 5th)

OTHER NOTES

• Outside of his three victories in his collegiate debut, Francois Malherbe's school record time in the 100 Free currently sits in the top 20 nationally (No. 18, via SwimCloud).
• The win over Iona is NJIT's first win in the first head-to-head dual meet of the season since October 25, 2019 when the Highlanders defeated Providence on the road, 156.5-134.5.

NEXT UP
The Highlanders return to action next week for the two-day NJIT Invitational, being held on October 13 and 14.