By NICK CILIBERTO

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

There was a bright spot for Fordham swimming and diving during an otherwise disappointing week for the Rams. Three Rams, senior Brienne Ryan, junior Shintaro Noguchi and freshman Steve Sholdra, all won Atlantic 10 Conference awards this week following their impressive performances in last weekend’s competitions against Iona, LaSalle and Richmond.

Ryan received her 12th conference award after winning three individual tournaments last weekend and set season-best records in two of them: the 100- and 200-yard backstroke. Ryan also posted season best times as a member of the 200-yad medley and 400-yard freestyle.

Noguchi became A-10 Men’s Performer of the Week for the third time in his college career, after winning four individual events last weekend, three against LaSalle and one against Iona. During the Saturday meet against LaSalle, Noguchi recorded the top time in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle as well as the 100-yard butterfly. The night before, Noguchi won the 50-yard freestyle in the match against Iona.

Sholdra tied the conference record previously set by Fordham alumnus Donnie Callara (2004-2005) by winning his sixth rookie award this week. Sholdra also won four events last weekend, three against LaSalle and one against Iona. On Saturday, Sholdra topped the Explorers in the 1000- and 500-yard freestyle as well as the 200-yard butterfly. He also won the 200-yard individual medley against Iona on Friday.

The Rams did not achieve the same results this weekend as they did last weekend. Entering the dual meet against Rutgers and Rider in Piscataway, NJ with a record of seven wins and three losses, the women’s team defeated Rider 216-74 but were beaten 162-132 by Rutgers. Meanwhile, the men’s team entered the weekend with a losing record of four wins and five losses and fell to Rider 149.5-144.5 and Yale, 201-97.

Ryan, Noguchi and Sholdra shined bright again this weekend as the only multiple event winners for the Rams. Sholdra won the 500 -yard freestyle in 4:38.77 and the 1000-yard freestyle in 9:28.69. Noguchi had a very impressive performance, finishing first in the 200 freestyle with a season-best time of 1:41.93 and the 100 fly in 49.90 seconds, just 0.05 short of his season-best time. Ryan took the 100 backstroke in 55.04 seconds, just 0.03 seconds shy of her season-best time. She also took the 200 back in 2:02.05.

Senior Alana Biagioli and freshman Shannon Lulley also performed well. Biagioli won the 100 freestyle in 53.70 and finished second in the 200 freestyle. Lulley was victorious in the 100-yard butterfly finishing in 57.51 seconds and touched second in the 50 freestyle.

Despite the overall loss, the Rams’ relay teams were very impressive. The women’s 400-yard freestyle relay team of Biagioli, freshman Chandler Lulley, senior Kellie Lyver and Ryan won their race in 3:32.69 while Fordham’s second team of Shannon Lulley, junior Kara Field, freshman Megan Gray and sophomore Kelly Carroll finished second. The 200 medley relay of Ryan, Carroll, Shannon Lulley and Biagioli took second in 1:46.98 by a margin of less than a second behind the first place finishers. The men’s 400 free relay of Pat Militti, Yi, Nick Belfanti and Noguchi won their race in 3:09.52.

The Rams close out their season with two home meets. On Saturday, the Rams host the University of Massachussetts in the Messmore Center at 1 p.m. The Rams then close out the season at home against St. Francis (NY) next Wednesday at 6 p.m. The women currently sit at 8-4; the men are 4-7. The Rams hope to end the season strong, and compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships Feb. 20-23 in Geneva, OH.