Men's swimming and diving team takes first-place at Chicago Invitational

The Olivet College men's swimming and diving team finished in first-place at the University of Chicago Invitational held Jan. 13-14 at the Myers-McLoraine Pool in Chicago. Olivet topped the eight-team field with 1,325.5 points, while the host Maroons were second with 1047.5 points.

The Comets finished first in eight events, including four-of-five relays. They also were second in eight events.

The winning relays were the 200-yard freestyle (1:28.54), 400-yard freestyle (3:14.62), 800-yard freestyle (7:15.25) and 400-yard medley (3:35.29). Swimming on the 200 free relay was Juan Aguirre (Queretaro, Mexico), Ananta Fetters (Fennville/Holland), Mitch Powers (Kalamazoo/Central) and Paul Riha (East Grand Rapids). Aguirre, Powers, Igor Rasula (Belgrade, Serbia) and Koji Takahashi (Etobicoke, Ontario/Silver Thorn CI) were on the 400 free relay. The 800 free relay was Aguirre, Rasula, Takahashi and Brian Jaffee (Bowling Green, Ohio).

The 400 medley relay was Fetters, Powers, Takahashi and Dustin Meisner (Temperance/Erie Mason). This quartet also placed second in the 200-yard medley relay (1:39.26).

The other champions were Powers, 50-yard freestyle (:22.24); Shawn Bergman (Chelsea), three-meter dive (392.25); Yury Bylina (Minsk, Belarus), 200-yard individual medley (school-record 2:00.30); and Andy Weiss (Fremont), one-meter dive (378.65).

With a second-place finish in the 400-yard individual medley, Bylina broke the school-record by more than five seconds (4:16.72). Also taking second were Meisner, 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.39); Powers, 100-yard freestyle (:48.66); Takahashi, 200-yard butterfly (1:58.49); freshman Steven Davis (Davidsonville, Md./DeMatha), 1,650-yard freestyle (16:39.58); Justin Hulsebos (Wayland), three-meter dive (368.50); and freshman Andrew Wasson (Grand Ledge), one-meter dive (372.45).

The Comets will host Alma College Saturday, Jan. 21 for a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association dual meet at 1 p.m.