Men's Swimming & Diving Sinks Elms, 136.5-119.5

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University men's swimming and diving team notched its first dual meet victory of the 2014-2015 season as the host Bears edged Elms College, 136.5-119.5, on Tuesday evening at the Dr. Mary Jo Moriarty Pool in Bridgewater.

The host Bears improve to 1-4-1 with the win, while the Blazers slip to 1-4.

In his first collegiate meet, junior Eric Ford (Oakville, Conn.) paced Bridgewater State with a pair of individual victories in the 50 breaststroke (30.33) and 100 breaststroke (1:09.04) events.

Freshman Hunter Goodrich (Stoughton, Mass.) captured top honors in the 100 butterfly (58.37) and swam on a pair of winning relays.  Goodrich teamed with classmates Charles Anderson (Avon, Conn.) and Andrew Hebert (Lincoln, R.I.) and senior Charlie MacDonald (Braintree, Mass.) on the meet-opening 200 medley relay (1:49.60).  He also joined senior Sean Bruno (Easton, Mass.), junior Matt O'Brien (Whitman, Mass.) and freshman Benjamin O'Connor (East Longmeadow, Mass.) on the 200 freestyle relay (1:38.71).

Anderson added an individual win in the 50 backstroke (28.30).

Junior James Grippo (Longmeadow, Mass.) and sophomore Nick Cirillo (Gloversville, N.Y.) led the way for the Blazers as they each won three events.  Grippo placed first in the 1,000 freestyle (11:39.64), 100 backstroke (1:02.45) and 400 individual medley (4:59.92).  Cirillo touched the wall first in the 200 freestyle (1:58.79), 100 freestyle (54.91) and 500 freestyle (5:25.25).

Freshman Nick Bergstrom (Derry, N.H.) added a pair of triumphs in the 50 freestyle (23.14) and the 50 butterfly (25.66).

Both teams are back in action on Saturday afternoon at one. The Bears host Roger Williams University, while the Blazers travel to Mount Saint Mary College.