Oct. 13, 2009
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - The men's swimming & diving team began its 2009-10 season successfully with a dominating 144-97 win at St. Bonaventure Tuesday afternoon. The Nittany Lions won eight events with Brian Alden (Lansdale, Pa.) leading the way with two individual wins and a third on the 200 freestyle relay squad.
Alden paced the Nittany Lions as he took the 100 and 200 free events in times of 46.36 and 1:40.83, respectively. Teamed with John Austin (Kennett Square, Pa.), Jon Cochrane (Boalsburg, Pa.) and Mike Kaiserian (Radnor, Pa.), Alden and the squad won the 200 free relay in a time of 1:25.85.
Freshman Luke Bushman (Green Bay, Wis.) impressed in his collegiate debut, taking two victories in the 200 butterfly (1:56.80) and the 1,000 freestyle (9:42.92). Bushman would go on to take third in the 200 freestyle relay with Ben Ryan (State College, Pa.), James Capparell (Bridgewater, N.J.), and Ben Hengels (Glenview, Ill.) in a time of 1:29.64.
Capparell was victorious in the 400 IM, edging teammate Scott Marino (Scotch Plains, N.J.), by 1.12, swimming a time of 4:10.78. Dan Fimbianti (Mahwah, N.J.) and Jack Zierenberg (Allison Park, Pa.) was joined Capparell on the winners' podium as Fimbianti won the 200 backstroke (1:52.49) and Zierenberg took top honors in the 500 freestyle (4:46.04).
Alex Marchinski (Shillington, Pa.) made his debut into collegiate diving with a second-place showing in the one-meter dive event with 224.48 points.
The Nittany Lions return to Happy Valley in two weekends when they host West Virginia on Saturday, Oct. 24 at McCoy Natatorium. Events are set to kick off at Noon.
50 Freestyle
2. John Austin 22.10
3. Mike Kaiserian 22.35
4. Graham Risley 22.52
100 Freestyle
1. Brian Alden 46.36
4. Jon Cochrane 48.15
6. John Austin 50.29
200 Freestyle
1. Brian Alden 1:40.83
2. Ben Ryan 1:45.21
5. Ben Hengels 1:50.37
200 Butterfly
1. Luke Bushman 1:56.80
2. Jack Zierenberg 1:58.42
4. Greg Daniele 2:05.13
200 Backstroke
1. Dan Fimbianti 1:52.49
2. Jeff Gomez 1:55.52
3. Graham Risley 1:58.67
200 Breaststroke
2. Mitch Scherer 2:14.00
5. Scott Marino 2:17.00
6. Brent Sanderson 2:18.00
500 Freestyle
1. Jack Zierenberg 4:46.04
3. Colin Quirk 4:47.68
4. James Capparell 4:52.16
400 IM
1. James Capparell 4:10.78
2. Scott Marino 4:11.89
4. Matt Cox 4:21.26
1,000 Freestyle
1. Luke Bushman 9:42.92
2. Colin Quirk 9:43.15
4. Max Ettore 10:05.98
200 Freestyle Relay
1. Alden, Austin, Cochrane, Kaiserian 1:25.85
3. Ryan, Capparell, Hengels, Bushman 1:29.64
200 Medley Relay
2. Fimbianti, Scherer, Risley, Cochrane 1:35.95
3. Gomez, Sanderson, Daniele, Ryan 1:39.95
1m Diving
2. Alex Marchinski 224.48
4. Nick McLain 218.03
3m Diving
3. Nick McLain 225.38
4. Alex Marchinski 212.10
For complete coverage of all the Nittany Lion men's swimming & diving this season, go to Men's Swimming & Diving.
Follow Penn State head coach John Hargis on Twitter: @PSUCoachHargis
--NITTANY LIONS--