MSWM top Maine behind Beck, Kosenski

BULLDOGS OPEN HOME SCHEDULE WITH CONVINCING WIN OVER MAINE, 168-94

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore Graham Beck (Danvers, Mass.) claimed three first-place finishes and set a pool record as the Bryant University men's swimming and diving team avenged a disappointing loss to the University of Maine last season with a 168-94 victory on Thursday night at the Chace Athletic Center Pool.

A year after getting outtouched on the final relay of the meet, the Bulldogs (2-1) pulled away early to pick up their second victory over the Black Bears (1-1) in three years. Beck's victories in the 1000 free and 100 and 200 breast were equaled by graduate student Alex Kosenski's (Lavallette, N.J.) sweep of the sprint free events. In all, the Black and Gold grabbed 12 of the 14 first-place finishes in the meet.

Already the pool record-holder in the 100 breast, Beck bested his old mark by three hundredths of a second, touching the wall with a time of 59.24. He then went on to take the 1000 free with a time of 10:03.52 and the 200 breast with a time of 2:12.27. Kosenski matched Beck's three victories as he claimed the 50 free (21.73), 100 free (47.60) and 200 free (1:45.30) for the second-straight meet.

The Bulldogs also received strong performances from their underclassmen. After finishing just behind Beck in both breast events, freshman Joshua Bjornberg (Wallingford, Conn.) claimed the 100 fly for the second time this season with a time of 54.07. Classmate Brendan Miller-Radest (Chatham, N.J.) also put together a strong appearance in his first collegiate race at home, winning the 500 free with a time of 4:55.76 and finishing second in the 1000 free (10:09.86) and the 200 fly (2:01.77). Freshman Kevin Hong (Bridgewater, N.J.) and Nicholas Karadimas (New Milford, Conn.) also claimed firsts, winning the 200 back (1:58.95) and 200 IM (2:02.21), respectively.

Bryant will now have two weeks off before it competes in the Terrier Invite at Boston University on Nov. 16-18.