NEISDA: Owl Men Lead After Day #1

BRISTOL, R.I. 2/22/08 - The Keene State College men jumped out to the lead after the first day of competition at the 2008 New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Championships (NEISDA) being held at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.

Looking to capture its first NEISDA crown, Keene State leads three-time defending champ Bentley College 225-191.

The Owls won five of the eight events and set five school records on Friday. Sophomore Cody Larrimore (Trappe, Md.) was a double winner, taking first in the 50 free (21.76.) and the 100 fly in a school record time of 51.53. Other first place finishers were posted by freshman Dan Theleen (Southbury, Conn.) in the 500 free (4:45.65), and sophomore Mike Fedele (Sandwich, Mass.) in the 200 I.M. (1:57.07). Freshmen Karl Balinski (Waterford, Conn.) and Connor Pennoyer (Norwalk, Con.) sophomores Domingo Rose (Nashua, N.H.), and Larrimore also teamed up to capture the 200 free relay (1:26.35). All three events were KSC school records.

The Owls also secured valuable points with several top finishers. Freshmen Dan Morse and Lucas Pozzetta (Merimack, N.H.) placed second (4:47.78) and fifth (4:56.98) respectively in the 500 free. Penoyer (100 fly, 52.99) and Rose (50 breast, 27.28) were runner-ups in their respective events, and Balinski had a third place finish in the 50 free (21.96).

The team of freshman Mike Germane (Barrington, R.I.), Larrimore, Rose , and Balinski wrapped up the day by taking second with a school mark of 3:34.32 in the 400 medley relay.

The three-day meet continues on Saturday.