Men's Swimming & Diving Falls to Elms, 146-82

CHICOPEE, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men's swimming and diving team dropped a 146-82 decision to Elms College on Wednesday at the Partyka Natatorium.

The host Blazers improve their dual meet record to 4-1 with the win, while the visiting Bears slip to 1-6.

Elms captured first place in each of the first 12 events and recorded six second place finishes.

Bridgewater's lone victory came in the 200 freestyle relay as juniors Todd Avery (Brewster, Mass.), Sean Bruno (Easton, Mass.) and John Holmes (Norwood, Mass.) and senior Andrew Green (Middleboro, Mass.) posted a time of 1:49.76.

Senior Aaron Starke (Chicopee, Mass.) won three individual events to pace the Blazers.  Starke earned top honors in the 50 freestyle (25.87), the 100 freestyle (59.93) and the 50 butterfly (30.25).

Senior Keegan Goan (Westbrook, Maine) touched the wall first in the 100 butterfly (1:10.78) and the 50 backstroke (33.37), while sophomores Ethan Etheridge (Pawtucket, R.I.) and James Grippo (Longmeadow, Mass.) and freshman Nicklaus Cirillo (Gloversville, N.Y.) each added a pair of first place finishes.

Etheridge clocked winning times in the 50 breaststroke (31.88) and the 100 breaststroke (1:16.53), Grippo glided to first in the 800 freestyle (10:07.80) and the 100 backstroke (1:11.06), while Cirillo drove to top honors in the 200 freestyle (2:12.35) and the 400 freestyle (4:41.51).

The relay squad of Grippo, Etheridge, Goan and Starke also won the 200 medley relay in a time of 2:03.17.

Elms returns to action on Saturday afternoon when it hosts Mount Saint Mary's College at one.  Bridgewater is off until Thursday, January 23rd when the Bears entertain Babson College at six.