Worcester, MA --- WPI received strong performances from its A and B relay teams in both relay events as the visiting Engineers surprised Division I Providence 141-137 as part of a double-dual meet on Saturday.  The Crimson and Gray dropped a tight 142-128 decision to NEWMAC rival Coast Guard in the other matchup on the day. 

Alex Powers (Glocester, RI), Andrew Kelleher (Poughquag, NY), Erick Burgwardt (Mendon, NY) and Andrew Bauer (Cumberland, RI) got WPI off to a great start by claiming victory in the 200-yard medley (1:50.68) while the foursome of Eric Spazzarini (Enfield, CT), Tim Petri (Eksjo, Sweden), Seth MacDonald (Sherrill, NY) and Adam Trumbley (Prospect, CT) was fourth (1:54.39).  

With every point valuable entering the last event - the 400-yard freestyle - the Engineers secured the upset when Bauer, Burgwardt, Nathan Hughes (Arlington, VA) and Powers won in a time of 3:35.59 and the quartet of Ben List (Bedford, MA), Ben Collins (Newbury, MA), Trumbley and Adam McNally (Leominster, MA) touched in fourth place (3:44.17).  

Powers won WPI's lone individual event, striking gold in the 100-yard backstroke (59.55).  The sophomore tallied one of the Crimson and Gray's seven second-place showings on the day with a time of 2:12.00 in the 200-yard backstroke.

Other second place finishes included Petri in 100-yard (1:08.67) and 200-yard breastrokes (2:30.96), MacDonald in 200-yard butterfly (2:12.93) and 200-yard IM (2:13.81), Burgwardt in the 50-yard freestyle (25.02) and Bauer in the 100-yard freestyle (54.07).

A trio of swimmers registered third place performances.  They included Hughes in 200-yard freestyle (1:58.92),  Matt Suarez (Needham, MA) 1-meter diving (193.65) and McNalley in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:31.12)

WPI heads to Roger Williams for a rare Friday night race.  The opening gun is scheduled for 5pm.