Junior Travis Wright placed first in the men's one meter diving event, breaking a MAAC Championship record with a score of 334.35, as the Canisius swimming & diving program competed in day one of the 2017 MAAC Championships Wednesday evening from the Burt Flickinger Center.

Wright's score broke a seven-year-old MAAC record set by Rider's Paul Apostolakis during the 2010 MAAC Championship. The junior now has three individual championships in only his second season as a member of the Blue and Gold, with this year's three-meter event set to take place Friday.

The Golden Griffins showed their strength on the swimming side as well, as the team of freshman Ashlyn Gilfillan, sophomore Marissa DiRienzo, senior Hannah Graesser and junior Rebecca Anthone placed second in the women's 800 free relay event with a time of 7:36.40.

The women's 200 medley relay team of sophomore Cassie Brousseau, senior Marissa Watroba, freshman, Alize Allen and senior Hannah Graesser continued the Griffs solid performance with a third-place finish in 1:47.53.

On the men's side, freshman Kenyon Winkyy, senior Christian Westermeier, junior Dan Dirrigl and senior Cam MacDonald combined to place fourth in the 200-medley relay at 1:31.73 (breaking a school record), while the 800-free relay team of senior Gustavo Dos Santos, junior Dan Dirrigl, junior Greg Staebell and junior Collin Zapisek finished in sixth place with a time of 6:54.98.

“It was a great first night for us,” said head coach Scott Vanderzell. “It was nice to see Travis break the MAAC record for one meter diving. The girls had two tremendous relays, along with the men in the 200-medley relay breaking the school record by almost two seconds.”

The Griffs will compete in day two of the MAAC Championships tomorrow, beginning with six preliminary swimming events at 10 a.m.  

Event Notes
• The Griffs lead in the standings on the men's side after day one with 104 points. Bryant University and Rider University are tied for second with 88 points while Niagara University is close behind in fourth with 77 points.
• On the women's side, Canisius ranks third with 66 points trailing Marist, who leads all schools with 74 points, and Rider who is in second with 70 points.
• 11 female Griffs made the MAAC All-Academic team Rebecca Anthone, Katelyn Battaglia, Miranda Bigham, Marissa DiRienzo, Hannah Graesser, Karly Hartz, Kelly Roberts, Jacquie Sagasta, Julia Sagasta, Meghan Tyler and Marissa Watroba.  
• 12 Golden Griffins on the men's side, Michael Berg, Brent Carbone, Dan Dirrigl, Tommy Kirch, Cam MacDonald, John Moretti, James Pokornowski, Marc Ruszaj, Michael Shenal, Teddy Snyder, Greg Staebell and Christian Westermeier were selected for the MAAC All-Academic team.