Division III Recap: Williams Men Hold Off Tufts to Reclaim NESCAC Title

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After breaking Williams College’s streak of NESCAC Titles in 2018, the Tufts University Jumbos returned in 2019 ready to challenge again. The two teams stayed close all weekend, separated by as little as a single point at one point on Saturday night. Ultimately a one-two-three-four-six finish in the 200 fly was enough to secure the Ephs the title, barring any relay DQs. Williams College won the NESCAC title with 1,822 points. Tufts was second with 1,775.5 points. Amherst College followed in third in 1,506 points.

Tufts’ senior Kingsley Bowen was named Swimmer of the Year after sweeping the backstroke titles. He won the 50 in 22.48 ahead of four first years. In the 100 Bowen got to the wall in 48.24 while Amherst’s Craig Smith was runner up in 49.90. Bowen topped the 200 back in 1:46.48 to Smith’s 1:47.99.

The Jumbos also had a double winner in sprint sensation Roger Gu. Gu broke his own meet record in the 100 free, winning the event in 43.78. In the 50 he also blasted a new meet record, touching in 19.89. Gu also won the Consolation final of the 200 freestyle in 1:39.75. Amherst first year Scott Romeyn was runner up in the 50 free in 20.26 and in the 100 free in 44.34. In the 200 free he was sixth in 1:40.60. Those swims earned him Rookie of the Year.

Tufts freshman Tar Tar Jarusinchai won the 200 IM with a 1:51.09, just ahead of Bowdoin’s Karl Sarier in 1:51.30.

Williams’ Jackson Karofsky ran away with the 400 IM. The sophomore posted a nation leading time of 3:53.64. His classmate James Lovette won the 200 free in a meet record time of 1:37.82.

The Williams men replicated their women’s 500 freestyle prowess, taking first through third with Lovette (4:27.49), Karofsky (4:28.25) and Andrew Trunsky in 4:29.43. In the 1650, Karofsky was first to the wall in 15:31.01, ahead of Trunsky (15:37.71) and Lovette (15:44.15). Trunsky was the only Eph in the 1000 free. He won the event by five seconds in 9:15.52.

The Amherst breaststroke crew was not quite as deep or powerful as last year’s bunch, but was still a highlight for the Mammoths. Junior Sean Mebust won the 50 breaststroke in 25.54, just out touching Williams’ Jack Melnick in 25.58. In the 100 Melnick had the upper hand, using a faster second 50 to get to the wall in 55.64 to Mebust’s 56.00. Mebust was 55.75 in prelims. His senior teammate Chris Quinones finished third in 56.44. Mebust popped off a meet record 1:59.50 in prelims of the 200 breaststroke. At night he won the event in 2:00.17. Quinones finished third in 2:04.08 and Bowdoin’s Stephen Pastoriza touched second with a 2:02.94.

Williams’ David Pearcy was the first of six men under 50 in the 100 fly, stopping the clock in 48.95. Amherst’s Jack Koravos (49.30) touched second. Pearcy was second in the 200 fly in 1:49.05. His teammate Lucca Delcompare won in 1:48.42 while Ephs Sean Tan (1:50.03), and John Gaffney (1:51.00) followed.

Williams’ B 800 free relay team started the meet off in a meet record time of 6:40.28 before their A squad of Delcompare, Henry Marquardt, Curtis Maher, and Lovette blasted a 6:34.03 to win the event by seven seconds.

Tufts set a NESCAC record in the 200 freestyle relay as Costantino Camerano, Jj Batt, Lomax Turner, and Gu got to the wall in 1:21.21 ahead of Amherst’s 1:21.47. Tufts and Amherst were first and second again in the 200 medley relay with Bowen, Matthew Manfre, Camerano, and Gu touching in 1:29.26 to the Mammoths’ 1:29.86. Nate Tingen, Jarusinchai, Bowen, and Gu combined for a meet record 3:16.43 in the 400 medley to Amherst’s 3:16.96.

Amherst finally broke through to win a relay in the final event, the 400 freestyle relay. Jack Koravos, Eric Wong, Charlie Seltzer, and Romeyn raced to a 3:00.29 ahead of Tufts in 3:01.07. Bowdoin led the whole way through the 325 before touching third in 3:01.64.

Bowdoin’s Mitch Ryan won both boards, taking the one meter with a score of 465.90, just over a point ahead of Amherst’s Bennett Fagan in 464.30. Ryan scored 498.35 points to win on three meter.

Full results here.

Team Scores

1. Williams College 1822

2. Tufts University 1775.5

3. Amherst College 1506

4. Bowdoin College 1019.5

5. Bates College 878.5

6. Colby College 868

7. Connecticut College 803.5

8. Middlebury College 589.5

9. Trinity College 444.5

10. Hamilton College 271

11. Wesleyan University 254

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