Men's Swimming Places Third in Swarthmore Invitational; Rowan University Claims Title

SWARTHMORE, Pa. - In an exciting meet, having seen pools records shattered the day before, the Swarthmore Garnet swim team saw several solid performances. Senior Sam Bullard-Sisken placed third overall in the 100-yard backstroke and second in the 200-yard backstroke. 

The Garnet men began the day with a second place finish in the men's 200 yard medley relay. The team of junior Roger Chin, senior Lance Liu, Bullard-Sisken, and senior Tim Brevart finished with a time of 1:41.78. 

In the 400 yard IM, sophomore John Flaherty battled Jacob Robinson from Ursinus and Tyler Huizing of Rowan until the final stretch for a third place finish with a time of 4:25.66.

The Garnet men also had strong performances in the 100 yard butterfly. Sophomore Henry Kietman placed ninth with a time 57.29 and sophomore Cyrus Nasseri placed fourteenth with a time of 58.13. Max Tyburski of Rowan University had a statement victory in the event with a time of 50.27, enough for an NCAA "B" cut. 

The Rowan University Profs also dominated the 200 yard freestyle. Rowan swimmers Billy Malone and Timond placed first and second, with times of 1:42.52 and 1:46.54. Garnet sophomore Peter Ballen placed eleventh in the event with a time of 1:52.44. 

Garnet senior Dante Fuoco cracked the top twelve in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:05.69. Liu followed in thirteenth place with a time of 1:05.86 and sophomore Patrick Monari in fourteenth with a time of 1:07.89. 

In the 100 yard backstroke, Bullard-Sisken finished third overall with a time of 55.00 after a fierce battle with Larry Dow of Rowan and Michael Lawley of Widener. Garnet senior Neil Palmer finished fifth with a time of 57.63. Dow's time of 51.03 was enough for an NCAA "B" cut.

The Garnet finished the first session of the day with a fourth place finish in the 800 yard freestyle relay. The team of Flaherty, Ballen, Palmer, and Fuoco finished with a time of 7:42.09. 

In the second session of the day, sophomore Peter Ballen kept the momentum going with a fifth-place finish in the 1650 yard freestyle with a time of 17:59.65.  

The Garnet wouldn't let up and had four swimmers place in the top fifteen. Bullard-Sisken battled first place finisher Tim Dimond of Rowan throughout the race and finished just miliseconds behind him for a second-place finish with a time of 2:00.66. The other Garnet swimmers were Chin (10th place - 2:08.53), senior Neil Palmer (12th place - 2:08.82), and Nasseri (13th place - 2:08.88). 

In the 100 yard freestyle, Brevart had an impressive performance, finishing in eleventh place with a time of 50.10. Freshman Max Krackow finished in eighteenth place with a time of 51.08. Rowan Prof Billy Malone won first place with a time of 46.09.

Swarthmore freshman Zach Gavin earned a sixth-place finish in the 200 yard breaststroke with a time of 2:20.92 and senior Dante Fuoco finished in seventh place with a time of 2:20.99.

To round things out, sophomore John Flaherty finished fourth in the 200 yard butterfly with a time of 2:02.83.

They return to action on January 21st at Ware Pool against Cabrini College. Action is slated for 2:00 p.m.