MSWM competes in MAAC Championships this weekend
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After months of training, the Bryant University men's swimming and diving team will put it all to the test this weekend as they compete in the MAAC Championships hosted by Canisius and Niagara in Buffalo, N.Y.
The Bulldogs are in their second season in the MAAC and will be looking to improve upon their fifth-place standing from a year ago. Bryant scored 385 points last year, finishing behind Rider, Marist, Canisius and Saint Peter's. The Bulldogs set 13 school records at last year's championship.
Fully tapered, the Black and Gold enter championship season in great shape and will look to their proven veterans to lead the way. Senior Nicholas Karadimas (New Milford, Conn.), a silver medalist in the 50 free a year ago, enters this weekend seeded fifth in the event with time of 21.44. Karadimas is also slotted sixth in the 100 free (47.18) and 12th in the 200 free (1:46.20), events he finished fourth and fifth in, respectively, last year. Joining him will be junior captain Graham Beck (Danvers, Mass.). After finishing fourth in both the 100 and 200 breast a year ago, Beck will return to Buffalo looking for a medal. He is slated fifth in the100 breast (58.49) and 11th in the 200 breast (2:14.03), both significantly higher than the school records he set last season.
The Bulldogs will also look to top performances from their underclassmen. Sophomore Joshua Bjornberg (Wallingford, Conn.) burst on to scene last year, earning a finals appearance in both the 100 and 200 breast. He returns this weekend seeded ninth in the 100 breast (59.44) and eighth in the 200 breast (2:12.12). Classmate Kevin Hong (Bridgewater, N.J.) has put together a fine season and enters the weekend 10th in the 400 IM (4:21.09), 14th in the 100 back (54.61) and 14th in the 200 back (1:59.58).
Other high seeds for the Bulldogs include Brendan Miller-Radest (Chatham, N.J.), Andrew Neggia (Ramsey, N.J.) and Cameron Hessler (Southbury, Conn.). Miller-Radest is 14th in the 1000 free (10:17.68) and 15th in the 1650 (17:18.39), Neggia is 13th in the 400 IM (4:27.71) and 16th in the 200 fly (2:00.73), and Hessler is 15th in the 100 back (54.99).
As they have in each of the past two seasons, the Bulldogs will look to rewrite their relay record books. Bryant has broken the school record in all five relays each of the last two seasons and is primed to do again this weekend. The 200 free relay is seeded sixth, the 400 free relay is seventh, the 800 free relay is seventh, the 200 medley relay is sixth and the 400 medley relay is seventh.
The 2014 MAAC Championships begin on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 10:00 a.m. with preliminary heats in the 500 free, 200 IM and 50 free. The first finals heat will be the 200 free relay at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday. For all championship information, including times, live results and a live webcast, CLICK HERE.