RADNOR, Pa. – The Ursinus College men's swimming team lifted the lid on the 2018-19 campaign in fine fashion, using a balanced effort to score a 125-77 non-conference victory.
Ten different swimmers earned individual wins for the Bears, who won their third consecutive season opener.
Junior Jared Krawetz was the first Ursinus man in with a first-place finish, cruising to the podium in the 1000 free with a time of 10:31.01 as senior Johnathan Myers took second (10:44.97).
Freshman William Clift's debut was a rousing success, as the rookie outpaced the rest of the field by more than 14 seconds in the 400 IM (4:35.68).
Senior James Callaghan headlined a 1-2-3 sweep in the 200 butterfly, posting a mark of 2:05.44. Freshman Matthew Seeburger was second in 2:11.35 and senior Devin Nielsen rounded out the trio with a 2:14.19.
The Bears also swept the podium in the 100 free, a unit spearheaded by senior Casey Lear's 49.53. Myers added another runner-up placing with a 52.93, and senior Thomas Bantley was third at 54.14.
Sophomore Michael Prior claimed victory in the 500 free (4:53.13) to cap off a stretch of five consecutive events that went the way of the Bears.
Ursinus capped the meet in style as senior Maxwell Coulter, freshman Matt Snyder, sophomore Matthew Buccella, and senior Daniel Becker won the 200 free relay in 1:31.49, half a second clear of senior Kevin Gill, Krawetz, Lear, and Clift in second.
Buccella was runner-up in the 200 free (1:49.48) and Coulter placed second in the 50 free (22.95). Freshman Daniel Mueser, junior Samuel Sjosten, senior Reid Luksic, and Seeburger were second in the 200 medley relay (1:47.07).
The Bears get right back at it on Saturday, when they open Centennial Conference competition with a trip to Dickinson.