USMMA Swimmers Start Season Strong

GLASSBORO, N.J. - Freshman diver Nicholas Halbach qualified for the NCAA National Championships in both diving events to lead the way for the United States Merchant Marine Academy men's swimming and diving team at the Rowan Cup on Saturday.

Senior Jay Carpenter, freshman John Albrecht and senior co-captain Matthew Ellison all won individual swimming events. The Mariners also won four of the five relay events and posted a second place finish in the 400 yard freestyle relay.  

"Our goal for this meet was to race and swim fast," said Head Coach Sean Tedesco. "As a team, we had a very, very good day. I was happy with our performance."  

Making his Mariner debut, Halbach won the 1 meter diving event with 452.20 points and placed second in the 3 meter diving event with 490.30 points.  

"We knew he was a good diver," said Tedesco on Halbach. "Today he stepped up and performed at an elite level. We're proud of him."  

Carpenter finished first in the 100 yard breaststroke (59.07), 200 yard IM (1:59.32) and 200 yard butterfly (2:01.04). Ellison won the 500 yard freestyle in 4:57.70 while Albrecht earned the winning time in the 1000 yard freestyle in 10:36.10.  

The first relay squad to claim an event was the 200 yard medley relay (1:30.24) featuring junior Scott Pearson, Carpenter, Ellison and freshman Nick Krupa. Sophomore Pavel Milke teamed up with Carpenter, Krupa and Pearson to win the 200 yard freestyle relay in 1:39.16.  

Swimming on the winning 400 yard medley relay in 3:44.30 were Pearson, freshman Peter Kaminski, Carpenter and Krupa.  

The fourth and final relay team to win an event came in the 800 yard freestyle. Freshmen John Fields, Albrecht and Nicholas Chester teamed up with Ellison to post a time of 7:28.01, which was nine seconds faster than the second place finisher.  

The men's swimming and diving team returns to action on Monday, Nov. 26, for a dual meet at SUNY Maritime. The meet is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.