Columbia Men Beat Penn

STATEN ISLAND, New York, December 10. THE Columbia men extended its lead to the largest of the day in the final event in a 177-123 triumph over Penn at Uris Pool.

Penn crept back to within 29 points after 13 of 16 events after the Lions had led by as many as 43. Penn placed first in both the 500 free and 100 fly to make up some ground entering the three-meter diving after Columbia swept the first three spots in the 200 breast to extend its lead to 125-82 after 11 events.

However, the Lions placed first in the final three events of the day to pull away.

In the three-meter diving, Justin Reardon scored 258.53 to win the five-competitor event despite receiving no score on the final of his six dives due to performing an incorrect dive. Earlier, Reardon had won the 1m diving with a total of 296.55.

First-year Darren Pagan was first in the 200 individual medley in 1:54.62, then, in the meet's final event, the Lions took first and second courtesy of a disqualification for Penn's top relay. Steven Ko, Kevin Wakefield, Jake Abbott and Tobin White swam 3:05.50 for first place. Penn touched second, but was DQ'ed due to an early start on one of its legs.

"I knew we were going to have our hands full," head coach Jim Bolster said of the meet, "but a couple of key events went our way."

Zach Glassman, Ross Ramone and Michael Nelson went 1-2-3, respectively, in the 200 breast as the Lions surged ahead of the Quakers after event 11. Glassman swam 2:04.20 to finish four seconds ahead of the field.

The Lions also took first and second in the 100 breast to open a 57-36 lead after five events. Nelson swam 58.11 for first and Glassman was second in 58.37. Glassman was 0.04 seconds ahead of the third-place finisher from Penn.

"The key was the one-two finish in the 100 breast," Bolster explained, "as well as Cedric Cheung-Lau's final 50 in the 200 fly."

Cheung-Lau won the 200 fly in 1:52.61, just ahead of Penn's Joseph Griffith, who was 0.16 seconds behind.

Tobin White edged Penn's Patrick Gallagher in the 50 free, 21.30 to 21.38, and 200 free, 1:39.76 to 1:40.16, but Gallagher was first to White's second in the 100 free.

Luke Fitzpatrick took first in the 100 back in 51.75.

Columbia took an 11-6 lead in the openng relay as Fitzpatrick, Nelson, Steven Ko and Darren Pagan swam 1:33.38 to edge the Quakers' top team by 0.14 seconds.

"I did not anticipate us winning that opening relay," Bolster noted.

In all, Columbia was first in 11 of the meet's 16 events, although Penn had posted superior times in most events entering today's meet.

"I was very pleased with the way they swam," Bolster said of his team. "This is a tough time of year with exams."

The Lions do not compete again until Saturday, January 9 when the team hosts Princeton at 2 p.m

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