On Saturday, the Purple Eagles men's and women's swimming and diving teams kick off their slate of matches at the Oxy Aquatic Center, as the Fredonia Blue Devils travel north to Niagara. Niagara had swimmers post promising finishes on both the men's and women's sides at the season-opening Western New York Invitational on Oct. 3, setting the foundation for the season ahead.
 
Last Time Out

• Niagara swimmers won two events at the Western New York Invitational hosted by the University at Buffalo. Shawn Warner won the 1000 free in 9:51.26, and Sydney Kligys took first in the 100 butterfly in 59.74 seconds.
• Warner, a junior, also placed second in the men's 100 butterfly (52.16) and helped the 200 medley relay team to a second-place finish in 1:37.49 along with Eric Ebert, Andreas Rintel, and Robert Brown.
• Rintel (2:00.82), Justin Sagasta (2:05.28), and Nicolas Winograd (2:07.20) finished second, third, and tied for fourth in the 200 IM, respectively.
• The men also secured two of the top four spots in the 200 breaststroke, as Sagasta placed third with a time of 2:19.29, while Nathan Booth finished fourth in 2:19.62.
• For the women, Kligys finished third in the 200 IM and fourth in the 200 backstroke in addition to her 100 butterfly win.
• Niagara's Emily York (second, 2:02.53) and Julia Casolo (fourth, 2:05.67) secured two top-four finishes in the 200 free for the Purple Eagles.
• On the diving board, JaRon Williams finished fourth among the men (198.40) and Emily Deck placed seventh on the women's side (142.10).

 
Victorious Against the Devils

• In last year's meets, both the men's and women's teams from Niagara defeated Fredonia at the Steele Hall Natatorium in Fredonia, NY.
• On the men's side, the Purple Eagles came out on top by a score of 131-104, and the women also defeated their opponents from the Blue Devils, 132-111.
• Alexander Pizzo took first place in the 200 free (1:48.99) and the 500 free (5:00.78).
• Shawn Warner took home victories in the 50 free (21.96) and the 200 butterfly (1:56.46).
• Edgar Melchor placed first in the 200 IM in 2:01.12, James Crumm earned first place in the 100 free in 48.16, and Ryan Monteleone took top honors in the one-meter diving event with a score of 269.20.
• The Niagara men also won two relays at this meet. Melchor, Warner, Shane Baxter, and Eric Ebert won the 400 medley relay in 3:37.24, while Crumm, Pizzo, Andrew Wilson, and Jason Ellis won the 400 free relay with a time of 3:23.86.
• Emily Altier led the way for the women's swimming and diving team with wins in the 1,000 free (11:06.79) and the 500 free (5:25.63).
• Emma Pullano emerged victorious in the 200 butterfly finishing in 2:16.02, while first place in the 200 backstroke went to Meredith Ricks with a time of 2:13.17.
• The Niagara women also took home wins in the 400 medley and 400 free relays.
• The 400 freestyle relay team of Ricks, Emily York, Brianna Smith, and Julia Casolo won the event in 3:49.72, while Ricks, Kligys, Bridgette Ehrmann, and Annie Eckhardt won the 400 medley relay with a time of 4:09.11.

 
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