The New York University Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving Teams opened their 2021-22 season by hosting NCAA Division II West Chester University on Saturday, October 9, at the Palladium Athletic Facility (PAF) Natatorium in Manhattan.   

The NYU men's team came out of the competition with a 196-184 victory, while the women were edged 157-143.

"The guys killed it today," said Head Swim Coach Trevor Miele. "They came out strong in the 200 medley relay and didn't let off the gas the entire meet. Unfortunately, we came up a little short on the woman's side. But, we had some amazing efforts against a national-level opponent."

The team of Jaeden-Hans Yburan (Livingston, NJ/Seton Hall Prep), Jacob Haines (Mount Laurel, NJ/Lenape), Ajay Watanakun (Bangkok, Thailand/Harrow International School), and John Piccinic (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) won that opening event in a time of 1:35.46. That was just the beginning of a big day for the foursome, as Haines who also won the 100 breaststroke (58.76) and finished second in the 200 breaststroke (2:09.35). Yburan, making his collegiate debut, was victorious in the 200 IM (1:54.23), the 100 backstroke (51.40) and was second in the 200 backstroke (1:53.41). Watanakun, another first-timer, captured the 100 butterfly (51.96) and the 50 freestyle (20.98), while Piccinic also went on to place second in the 100 freestyle (48.46).

All-American senior Graham Chatoor (Glencoe, Trinidad/International School of Port Spain) made his return to the pool in glorious fashion by winning the 500 freestyle (4:45.63) and the 1,000 freestyle (9:45.43).

"I'm super proud of everyone and how they did today," Chatoor said. "We've been working really hard. Everyone was eager to jump in after the last year and a half, and it showed. The whole team is hyped and ready to work even harder as we move forward."

On the women's side, Caitlin Marshall (Noblesville, IN/Noblesville) made her NYU debut in style, winning the 200 butterfly (2:07.94) and taking third in the 500 freestyle (5:18.20).

Leydn McEvoy (Milton, MA/Milton Academy), also jumping in the pool for the first time as a Violet, was victorious in the 200 IM (2:11.60) and posted second-place finishes in the 100 (54.35) and 200 (1:56.53) freestyles.

Junior Isabella Brosvik (Brentwood, TN/Ravenwood) placed second in the 100 butterfly (57.84) and third in the 200 butterfly (2:09.37).

"I am really proud of how the team raced today," Brosvik said. "We've been training really hard the past few weeks, so our mindset was really just about having fun and going fast. For most of us, it is our first meet back in a year and a half, so it was really exciting to be back in a meet-setting as a team."

A pair of divers recorded wins, including newcomer Issara Schmidt (Winona, MN/Winona Senior)t. She won both events in her collegiate debut, posting scores of 249.22 in the one-meter and 282.37 in the three-meter dives.

"I was nervous going into the meet, but I think as I got into my groove my diving progressively got better," Schmitt revealed. "I'm really happy with my performance and super proud of the team!"

Another newcomer, Rocky Fernell, placed second in the one-meter (265.87).

On the men's side, All-American Hunter Whitbeck (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxborough Regional) won the one-meter (262.50) and the three-meter (260.47) dives in his return to the pool.

"The teams performed really well and we were all excited to be back in competition after almost two years away," said Head Diving Coach Todd Kolean. "We are only a little over two weeks into the season, so to have Rocky and Issara qualify for the regional meet in the first go-round as freshmen is spectacular. I couldn't be happier with how we performed today."

Both teams return to action on Saturday, November 6, when they host The College of New Jersey back at the PAF Natatorium.