Men's Swimming Starts Strong at NEAC Championships

CAZENOVIA, N.Y. – The Wells College men's swimming program opened the 2015-16 North Eastern Athletic Conference Championships with several strong performances, earning second place after the first 12 events on Friday. The Express boast 139.5 points after the first day, placing second behind SUNY Cobleskill (158.50) and ahead of Gallaudet (108) and the hosts from Cazenovia (26).

Freshman Jordan Johnson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had his team's top finish on the evening, tying for first place in the 50 Yard Freestyle with a time of 23.38 to notch the second-fastest time in program history. Classmate Austin Heil (Medina, N.Y.) helped the Express rack up points, finishing third with a time of 23.67 that stands as the fifth-fastest sprint in history.

Wells began the day with a second place finish in the 200 Yard Medley Relay as junior Lucas Donnenwirth (Frankfort, N.Y.), sophomore Shawn Snell (Hilton, N.Y.), sophomore Tyler Lewis  (Chittenango, N.Y.) and Heil combined to complete the event in 1:45.79. The foursome of freshman Arthur Brooks (Morristown, N.J.), freshman Brandon Sprague (Brockton, Mass.), Johnson and sophomore Owen May (Warsaw, N.Y.) also performed admirably in the B relays (1:42.79).

May's 500 Yard Freestyle time of 5:22.59 was not only the second fastest in the finals, but also the second fastest in program history – he trails only Alex Lamphear '15 in the team's history (5:20.46).

Junior Keith Davenport (Weedsport, N.Y.), Brooks, Johnson and Sprague concluded the day for Wells with a time of 4:35.37 in the 400 Yard Medley Relay, recording the program's 10th-fastest finish in the event.

Wells returns to the pool Saturday, Feb. 13 for the second day of the NEAC Championship meet. Preliminary events begin at 10 a.m. while the finals will commence at 5 p.m. within the Schneeweiss Athletic Complex.