Springfield Edges Men's Swimming and Diving, 156-142

BABSON PARK, Mass. -- In its final tune-up before next month's NEWMAC Championships, the Babson College men's swimming and diving team fell to visiting Springfield College in a closely contested dual meet, 156-142, at the Morse Swimming Center on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, Springfield heads into its final dual meet of the season next weekend at Amherst with a record of 4-7, while Babson closes its regular season competition with a team record of 7-5.

Babson earned wins in nine of the 16 events, including two victories apiece from sophomore Isaac Breen-Franklin (Severna Park, Md.), sophomore Steven Jacobi (Cranbury, N.J.), and senior Joe Kent (Moscow, Russia). Breen-Franklin placed first in the 500 and 1000 freestyle events, Jacobi added wins in the 50 and 100 breaststroke competitions, and Kent prevailed in the 50 and 100 freestyle sprints. Adding an individual victory in the 50 flystroke was senior Tom Foutsitzis (Shrewsbury, Mass.), who joined classmates Kent, Ryan Pope (Hawthorne, N.Y.), and Matt Turkot (Barrington, Ill.) in celebrating their final collegiate home meet.

The Beavers' final two victories came courtesy of junior Greg Bissett (Cerritos, Calif.), Jacobi, Foutsitzis, and Kent in the 200 medley relay, and Bissett, junior Mike Flaherty (Walpole, Mass.), first-year Aaron Pomeroy (Cottage Grove, Wisc.), and Kent in the 200 free relay.

Josh Ernst (West Springfield, Mass.) had a big day on the win for Springfield, recording first-place finishes in the 50 back, 100 back, and 200 IM. Sophomore Benjamin Ernst (West Springfield, Mass.) added a win in the 100 fly, junior Nolan Manley (Monson, Mass.) took first in the 200 free, and sophomore Dalton Crantek (Saugerties, N.Y.) and senior Tyler Gunningsmith (Trumansburg, N.Y.) won the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events, respectively.