Worcester, MA --- The host WPI men's swimming and diving team faced stiff competition on Saturday and Sunday, but the Engineers blew past the rest of the field to come in first place in the five-team field, breaking 12 school records in the process.
WPI's 5,861 points far exceeded second-place Bentley with 3,088. Roger Williams (2,155) came in third, followed by Clark (1,691) and Brandeis (994).
Sophomore Alex Powers (Glocester, RI) had a whale of a meet with individual victories and new WPI standards in the 50-yard backstroke (24.15), 100-yard backstroke (50.85) and 200-yard backstroke (1:52.5). He was also on all three record-setting relays, taking part in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:24.79), the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:07.26) and the 800-yard freestyle relay (6:55.95).
Joining him on the 200-yard freestyle relay were Ben List (Bedford, MA), Erick Burgwardt (Mendon, NY) and Nathan Hughes (Arlington, VA). Hughes and List were also both on the 400-yard freestyle relay team, along with Andrew Bauer (Cumberland, RI). Bauer, Hughes and Andrew Kelleher (Poughquag, NY) all swam with Powers on the 800-yard freestyle relay, taking the anchor lap.
Freshman Tim Petri (Eksjo, Sweden) set a pair of school marks in the 100-yard breaststroke with an overall time of 58.33 and with the split time recorded for the first 50 yards (27.07) while junior Adam McNally (Leominster, MA) put his stamp on the 200-yard breaststroke (2:09.77). Rounding out the individual records was freshman Seth MacDonald (Sherrill, NY), who was stellar in the 100-yard individual medley (0:54.30) and 200-yard individual medley (1:55.48).
MacDonald took further victories in the 100-yard butterfly (51.53),as the Engineers swept the top five, and then the 200-yard butterfly (1:54.04).
List claimed the win in the 50-yard butterfly (23.49), followed close behind by the second-place Burgwardt (52.89).
Hughes, a sophomore, reigned supreme in the sprint freestyles, winning the 50-yard freestyle (21.49), the 100-yard freestyle (46.95) and the 200-yard freestyle (1:43.10). Hughes also showed up as the freestyle anchor on the winning 400-yard medley relay team (3:28.48) along with Powers, Petri and MacDonald.
WPI rounded out its relays with second place in the 200-yard medley relay (1:37.63), using a team of Bauer, MacDonald, McNally and post grad Eric Spazzarini (Enfield, CT). The Engineers also took third place (1:39.91).
McNally had a win in the 400-yard individual medley (4:09.60), as MacDonald (4:15.26) finished second and Spazzarini (4:20.53) in third.
Junior Nick Houghton (Berkley, MA) rounded out the Engineers' victories, taking the 500-yard freestyle in 4:47.55. He was also second in the 1,650-yard freestyle.
The Engineers won 18 of 24 scored events.
Petri was tops for the hosts in the 50-yard breaststroke, taking fourth in 27.80.
Freshman Matt Suarez (Needham, MA) held his own in the 1-meter dive (3rd place, 326.70 points) and broke the school record in the 3-meter dive (2nd place, 310.10).
The WPI men's swimming and diving team now has over a month off before returning to competitive action on Jan. 11 at Bowdoin.
Release by Carl Setterlund - WPI Athletics Intern - Emerson '14
Championship photo by Mark Therrien
