BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Amherst College men's swimming and diving team trimmed the lead of defending champion Williams College during day two of the NESCAC Men's Swimming and Diving Championship Saturday at Bowdoin College. The eight-time defending champion Ephs still maintain a 103-point lead heading into Sunday's final day of competition.
Williams will enter day three with 1228.5 points with arch-rival Amherst still within shouting distance at 1125.5. Tufts (930), Middlebury (754) and Connecticut College (514) round out the top five schools.
The Jeffs were able to make up some ground early on Saturday, claiming the first two events of the finals session and four overall. The 200 medley relay squad of Reid Fitzgerald, Ben McBratney, Tyler Bulakul and Alex Fraser took first place in a pool-record pace of 1:31.84. First-year Cono McAuliffe claimed the 1000 freestyle for Amherst with a time of 9:28.92. Amherst claimed two more victories on the night, from Fraser in the 200 freestyle (1:39.24) and from their 800 freestyle team of Ryan Lichtenfals, Tim White, Parker Moody and Fraser in a pool-best time of 6:43.54.
Junior Tim Walsh of Connecticut College earned his third win in as many years in the 100 backstroke (49.61) after setting a pool record time of 49.53 in the prelims. Middlebury's John Dillon successfully defended his 100 butterfly crown in a pool record time of 49.36. The other two victories of the session belonged to Williams, as Paul Dyrkacz established a new NESCAC and pool mark in the 400 individual medley (3:53.43), and Mar Soderstrom in the 100 breaststroke (57.10), who edged defending titleholder Ben McBratney of Amherst by .14 seconds.
Team Scores (Day Two of Three)
1. Williams (1228.5)
2. Amherst (1125.5)
3. Tufts (930)
4. Middlebury (754)
5. Connecticut College (514)
6. Bowdoin (509.5)
7. Bates (473)
8. Hamilton (423.5)
9. Trinity (333)
10. Colby (264)
11. Wesleyan (239)
Saturday's Results:
200 Medley Relay - Amherst (1:31.84)!
1000 Freestyle - Cono McAuliffe, Amherst (9:28.92)
400 Individual Medley - Paul Dyrkacz, Williams (3:53.43)*!
100 Fly - John Dillon, Middlebury (49.36)!
200 Freestyle - Alex Fraser, Amherst (1:39.24)
100 Breaststroke - Mar Soderstrom, Williams (57.10)
100 Backstroke - Timothy Walsh, Connecticut College (49.61)
800 Freestyle Relay - Amherst (6:43.54)!
! - Greason Pool Record
* - NESCAC Record
