Defending MAAC 50 free champion Tracy Liberi

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams compete in the 2005 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship Thursday through Saturday on the campus of Loyola College in Baltimore, Md. The competition begins with qualifying heats at 10 a.m., followed by the finals at 6 p.m. each day in the Loyola Fitness and Aquatic Center.

Last year, the Niagara men’s team finished sixth in the 10-team field and the women finished seventh among eight teams. Rider won the men’s competition, while Marist captured the women’s title.

Senior Traci Liberi (Rochester, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) will be defending her 50 free title and looks to reclaim the 100 free title she won as a sophomore. She swam a 24.47 in the 50 last year and a 54.33 in the 100 free to finish third.

Senior Brian Griffin (Petersburg, Va./St. Vincent de Paul) returns to the championship after an impressive showing last year, when he finished as runner-up in the 100 breaststroke and third in the 200.

The women’s 400 medley relay team of Heather Link (Wheatfield, N.Y./Niagara Wheatfield), Karolina Bazylewicz (Buffalo, N.Y./Hutch Tech), Jodi Kennis (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) and Liberi swam a 3:37.34 breaking the school record of 3:42.90 set in 2003 at last year’s MAAC Championship. The 200 medley relay of Link, Bazylewicz, Kennis and Liberi also tied the school record with a 1:52.80 at the MAACs.

Junior Kevin Klein (Oswego, N.Y.) set the 200 backstroke record at the conference meet. He went 1:56.11 and bested Dan O’Connell’s 1:56.74 mark in 1998.