Men's Swimming & Diving Drops Opener to St. Michael's

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men's swimming & diving team opened the 2022-2023 dual meet schedule with a 229-156 setback to Division II Saint Michael's College on Saturday afternoon at the Moriarty Pool.

The Bears captured top honors in five of the 16 events and added seven second-place performances.

The two schools were competing in the same pool for the first time since the 2016 New England Intercollegiate Swimming & Diving Association (NEISDA) Championships held at URI.

Sophomore Chase Simao (Stonington, Conn.) captured top honors in two individual events to lead the way for Bridgewater State. Simao was the first to touch the wall in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.25) and placed first in the 100 individual medley (1:00.83).

The Bears also received first place performances by junior Connor Young (Chelmsford, Mass.) in the 1,000 freestyle (11:29.83), junior Cooper Castellone (South Windsor, Conn.) in the 50 breaststroke (29.89), and senior Chris Anastasiades (Wakefield, Mass.) in the 100 butterfly (55.22).

Senior Antonio Gonzalez (Cranston, R.I.) finished second in both the 50 breaststroke (30.22) and the 100 breaststroke (1:00.52).

The foursome of junior Brennan Gravanda (Wilbraham, Mass.), Castellone, Anastasiades and junior Joseph Pervier (Baldwinville, Mass.) finished second in the 200 medley relay (1:44.01), while Anastasiades, sophomore Thomas Roch (Chelmsford, Mass.), Gravanda and Pervier placed second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:32.49).

Gravanda added a second place showing in the 100 backstroke (58.81), while Pervier placed second in the 50 backstroke (27.69) and senior Eric Silva (Dighton, Mass.) posted a second place showing in the 100 individual medley (1:01.57).

The Bears (0-1) are off until next Saturday when they host a tri-meet with Eastern Connecticut State University and Regis College.