Meet of the Week Recap: No. 5 Rowan Men Cruise to 135.5-109.5 Win Over Kutztown

By Jason Marsteller

KUTZTOWN, Pennsylvania, February 3. THE No. 5 Rowan men rolled to a 135.5-109.5 triumph over Kutztown in the SwimmingWorldMagazine.com Meet of the Week at the Keystone Natatorium in Kutztown, Pa. Overall, Rowan claimed 11 out of the 14 events.

Kevin Baker led the way for Rowan with a title trifecta when he won the 100 breast, 200 breast and 200 IM. Also for Rowan, Nick Giacopelli doubled up with wins in the 100 and 200 frees.

Alex Heller paced Kutztown with a double of his own when he touched first in the 500 and 1000 frees.

200 medley relay
Rowan stepped out to an 11-6 lead with a win in the 200 medley relay. The contingent of Kevin Baker, Kevin Ovalle, Kevin Wallace and Andrew Williams (with a team like that, Williams should change his first name) touched first in 1:39.95. Meanwhile, Kutztown's top team of Scott Thomas, Sean Bonifas, Scott Arnold and Derek Orr placed second in 1:41.63.

1000 freestyle
Kutztown countered with a 1-2 finish to take a 19-11 lead as Alex Heller won in 10:20.24 just in front of teammate Greg Fournier's 10:20.28 time. Rowan elected to exhibition its three swimmers.

200 freestyle
Rowan shaved a point off the lead, 28-21, with Nick Giacopelli won the 200 free in 1:47.44. KU's Rich Reshetar (1:49.82) and Steve Krater (1:51.95) placed second and third, respectively.

100 backstroke
Rowan took the lead, 34.5-33.5, in the 100 back with a top-two finish. Andrew Donachy nipped the field with a time of 56.37 for first, while Rowan's Christopher Sykes and Kutztown's Scott Thomas tied for second with matching 56.67s.

100 breaststroke
Rowan pushed out to a double-digit advantage, 48.5-38.5, in the 100 breast. Kevin Baker claimed the crown in 1:01.82, while teammate Mark Anthony Spagnuolo placed third in 1:03.25. KU's Sean Bonifas split the difference with a second-place 1:02.96.

200 butterfly
Rowan kept the pressure on with a top-two sweep for a 62.5-43.5 lead. Jeremy Soto touched first in 2:03.79, while teammate Kevin Wallace finished runner-up in 2:05.28. KU's Chris Howie rounded out the top three in 2:06.38.

50 freestyle
Rowan stretched its lead to 76.5-48.5 in the sprint free. Dan Kelley won in 22.69, while teammate Sam Spracklin placed third in 23.13. KU's Derek Orr took second in 23.12.

100 freestyle
Rowan extended its advantage to 89.5-54.5 when Nick Giacopelli snagged his second title with a time of 50.09. Teammate Dan Kelley finished second in 50.24, while Kutztown's Rich Reshetar took third in 50.62.

200 backstroke
KU cut the gap to 89.5-67.5 as Rowan exhibitioned its entrants in the event. Scott Thomas won in 2:03.37, while John Pandish placed second in 2:15.88. Rowan's three swimmers would have finished 2-3-4 if they scored.

200 breaststroke
Rowan held onto a 98.5-76.5 lead when Kevin Baker earned his second title of the meet in 2:14.51. KU's Sean Bonifas (2:23.26) and Nelson Martinez (2:28.39) placed second and third, respectively.

500 freestyle
KU closed to within 98.5-92.5 with Rowan exhibitioning the event. Alex Heller touched first in 5:01.34 for his second title, while teammates Greg Fournier (5:04.52) and Ian Baxter (5:43.75) placed second and third, respectively.

100 butterfly
Rowan remained in the lead, 107.5-101.5, when Kevin Wallace grabbed the 100 fly title in 55.14. Scott Arnold (56.97) and John Nicklous (57.79) took second and third, respectively, for Kutztown.

200 IM
Rowan bounced out to a 122.5-105.5 advantage with a 1-2 effort in the 200 IM. Kevin Baker recorded a trifecta with a time of 2:03.84, while teammate Andrew Williams took second in 2:05.35. KU's Shawn Santo finished third in 2:07.74.

200 freestyle relay
Rowan completed the 135.5-109.5 triumph with a win in the 200 free relay. The squad of Dan Kelley, Nick Giacopelli, Kevin Wallace and Andrew Donachy touched first in 1:31.35, while KU's team of Rich Reshetar, Derek Orr, Zane Zwillinger and Steve Krater took second in 1:31.91.

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