Massachusetts Ahead on Day One of Atlantic 10 Championships

BUFFALO, New York, February 21. THE University of Massachusetts' men and women are the leaders after the first night of competition of the Atlantic 10 Conference Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Championships at the Flickinger Center on the campus of Erie Community College in Buffalo, N.Y.

Massachusetts' women finished atop the leader board with 126 points. Richmond is in second with 89. Following are the teams in order of points: St. Louis 79; La Salle 75; Fordham 68; St. Bonaventure 67; Duquesne 60; Xavier 52; Rhode Island 43; and George Washington 32.

In the first event of the evening, the 200-yard medley relay, Richmond broke an A-10 record with a time of 1:43.49. Swimming for the Spiders were freshmen Alex Helland and CJ Pisano and sophomores Lauren Beaudreau and Katie Sieben.

Richmond took first in the 800-freestyle relay in a time of 7:28.19, which also set a new A-10 record. The Spiders' senior Caitlin Geary, junior Jessica Witt, freshman Joanna Rakoczy and Beaudreau took gold.

In diving action, Massachusetts' junior Katie Gifford broke a third A-10 record of the day when she scored 493.95 on the one-meter board.

In the men's championship, Massachusetts finished the night in first place with 80 points, and Duquesne is in second with 68. Xavier and St. Bonaventure are tied for third place with 62 points each. Following are the teams in order of points: Rhode Island 54; George Washington 50; Fordham 46; St. Louis 42; and La Salle 26.

Massachusetts captured gold in both relay events. In the 200-medley relay, the Minutemen broke an A-10 record with a time of 1:31.00. Seniors Evan Swisher and Jake Hogue, sophomore Nate Bromage and freshman Juan Moliere claimed the first-place finish. In the 800-free relay, Swisher, senior Greg Chartier and juniors AJ Vozella and Derek Castellana touched in a time of 6:46.23. Duquesne snagged second with a time of 6:46.78. The Dukes were lead by seniors Clayton Dean and Ed Wicker, junior Ian Walsh and sophomore Chris Kobela.

The Atlantic 10 swimming and diving championships resume Thursday morning at 10:30. Doors open at the Flickinger Center at 9:15.

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