Smith Equals 50 Backstroke Mark as Bears Split Tri-Meet with Babson & Norwich on Senior Day

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Senior Richard Smith (Milford, Mass.) tied the school record in the 50 backstroke as the Bridgewater State University men's swimming & diving team split a tri-meet with Babson College and Norwich University on Senior Day at the Moriarty Pool.

The Bears (9-6) posted a 189-103 win over Norwich and dropped a 158-127 decision to Babson.

Smith, who placed first in three events at the meet, posted a time of 24.53 seconds in the 50 backstroke as he equaled Dave Cangiano's 20-year old program mark set back in 1998. Smith also captured top honors in the 100 freestyle (48.74) and the 200 individual medley (2:00.48).

Sophomore Dylon Willis (Attleboro, Mass.) added a pair of individual event victories for the Bears. Willis was the first to touch the wall in both the 50 breaststroke (27.67) and the 200 breaststroke (2:16.83).

Junior Alexander Belinsky (Norton, Mass.) had the top score in the three-meter diving competition with a season-best 246.10 points. Belinsky also placed second on the one-meter board with a season-best total of 230.45 points.

Prior to the meet, the Bears honored seniors Smith, Andrew Hebert (Lincoln, R.I.), Max Medina (Marion, Mass.), Benjamin O'Connor (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and Ryan Stringfellow (Foxboro, Mass.).

The Bears are off until Thursday, February 15th when they compete at the four-day NEISDA Swimming & Diving Championships held at the University of Rhode Island.