Bulldogs compete at MAAC Championships in Buffalo, N.Y. this week
MAAC SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Led by returning gold medalist senior Graham Beck (Danvers, Mass.), the Bryant University men's swimming and diving team begins competition at the MAAC Championships on Wednesday night at Erie Community College in Buffalo, N.Y.
The Bulldogs return to Western New York for their third championship meet since joining the MAAC. They have increased their finish in each year, grabbing fourth place last spring.
This year, the Black and Gold will once again look to improve upon their finish as they head west with one of their top teams. Leading the way will be the breaststroke trio of Beck, freshman Ben Schulte (Mermaid Beach, Australia) and junior Joshua Bjornberg (Wallingford, Conn.). Beck won a gold medal in the 200 breast and finished second in the 100 breast a year ago. Bjornberg has been there as well, finishing seventh in the 200 breast and ninth in the 100 breast last spring.
Currently enjoying an outstanding rookie season, Schulte enters this week's MAAC Championships with a lot of buzz. He enters the week with the top two times in both the 100 (55.42) and 200 (2:01.89) breast, and is also second in the 200 (1:52.46) and 400 (4:02.31) IM. Right behind him in the breast events is Beck, who enters the week third in the 100 breast (57.99) and fourth in the 200 breast (2:09.06). Bjornberg ranks 16th (1:00.84) and 14th (2:12.80) in the two events.
The Black and Gold will also look towards junior Andrew Neggia (Ramsey, N.J.) and a trio of underclassmen. Neggia returns for his third MAAC Championship meet and is seeded 14th in the 400 IM with a time of 4:24.11. The underclassmen include Pierre Le Guyader (East Islip, N.Y.), Zachary Hannon (Marlborough, Conn.) and Colin Curtin (Wethersfield, Conn.). Le Guyader enters the championships seeded seventh in the 50 free (21.75) and 13th in the 100 free (48.04). He finished fourth and seventh in his debut performance last spring. Hannon is also seeded high in the 50 free, entering the week at No. 14 (22.02). Meanwhile, Curtin has enjoyed an outstanding second half of his rookie season and enters his first championships seeded seventh in the 1000 free (9:57.19) and 13th in the 100 back (54.26).
Another key part of Bryant's success at the championship meet has come from its relay teams. Last spring, Bryant set program records in both the 200 and 400 medley relays. The Bulldogs finished fourth in both events last year and enter the championships seeded fourth in both with times of 1:34.95 and 3:30.02. The 200 and 400 free relays are also seeded fourth entering the championship meet.
The MAAC Championships open on Wednesday night with the 200 medley and 800 free relays. The finals continue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
For more information, to purchase tickets and to watch the championships live, click here.