SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 20, 2008) – The Springfield College men's swimming and diving team fell to visiting MIT and Coast Guard on Sunday afternoon. The Pride fell to MIT 181-117 and dropped a 187-113 decision to Coast Guard.

Roy Burch led the way for the Pride as he won the 100 backstroke (53.92), 50 freestyle (21.75), and finished second in the 100 freestyle (48.02), losing to Coast Guard's Jim Okorn by just .01 seconds.

Ben Casavant won both the one- and three-meter diving events with national qualifying scores in each. Brian Sobol also qualified for nationals on both boards as he finished second on the three-meter and third on the one-meter while teammate Matt Fitzgerald, who placed second on the one-meter, qualifed for nationals in that event.

The 400 freestyle relay team of Greg Pearsall, Matt Manoni, Andrew Blakesley, and Burch finished second in a time of 3:11.38, just .17 seconds off MIT's winning time.

Springfield returns to action on Saturday afternoon when the visiting Williams College Ephs come to the Art Linkletter Natatorium for a 1:00 pm meet.

published: 01/23/2008