Men’s Swimmer of the Week/Rookie of the Week
Vilem Mikula, Niagara
Fr., Pardubice, Czech Republic, Gymnazium Pardubice Dasicka 1083
Vilem Mikula won his two individual events, the 100 and 200 backstroke for Niagara last week. In the 100 he set a new school and pool record in a time of 48.74. Mikula’s 200 back time of 1:49.35 was the fifth fastest in school history and five seconds ahead of the closest competitor from St. Bonaventure. His leadoff backstroke leg on the medley relay was the fastest in the field while Mikula anchored the winning 400 freestyle relay with the fastest split (44.95). Doing so gave the Men’s team their victory on the day, as the Men’s meet had come down to the last relay.
Men’s Diver of the Week
Stavros Xantheas, Rider
Jr., West Orange, NJ, West Orange
Stavros Xantheas won both boards in Rider's dual meet against Marist. The junior scored 315.00 on the 3-meter, the highest score posted by any diver in the MAAC this season, and 262.73 on the 1-meter.
Women’s Swimmer of the Week
Alaina Pitton, Niagara
Jr., Portland, OR, Jesuit High School
Alaina Pitton won all four of her races, with every one of them setting a new Kiernan Center pool records. Pitton split of 27.74 on the medley relay gave her relay team a lead that would not be relinquished as they touched first with a conference leading time. Her individual events saw her lead from start to finish, winning the 100 breast, 200 breast, and 200 IM. Each swim shattered the previous pool records and are MAAC leading times by multiple seconds.
Women’s Diver of the Week
Gabrielle Norton, Marist
So., Albany, NY, UNCW/Colonial Central
Gabrielle Norton won both diving events in Marist's victory over Rider. She posted a score of 229.80 in 3-meter diving, and 226.28 in 1-meter diving.
Rookie of the Week
Natasha De Pree, Fairfield
Fr., Somerset, England, Millfield Futures
Natasha De Pree picked up two individual freestyle wins, taking the top spot in the 500 (5:02.15) and in the 200 (1:53.58). She also finished second in the 100 free by completing the distance in 53.61.
The 2026 MAAC Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving Championships is a four-day meet that will take place February 11-14, 2026, and will be hosted at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio. 2026 will mark the third straight year the championships are hosted at SPIRE. For all information regarding the 2026 MAAC Men's & Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, please visit
maacsports.com/swim.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
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