Swimming and Diving - NU men off to strong start
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT. – Norwich University picked up a pair of fifth-place finishes in relay events to help highlight a good first day at the 2012 New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association Championships Feb. 17.
The Cadets' quintet of seniors Mike Zemanek (Voorheesville, N.Y.) and Kevin Weber (Stephentown, N.Y.) junior Chris Hevey (Biddeford, Me.) and sophomore Brandon Kelly (Centreville, Md.) got the evening off to a fast start with a 1:29.82 in the 200 freestyle relay. Kelly and Zemanek joined freshman Lance Webster (Windham, Me.) and sophomore Patrick Bowden (Cumberland, Me.) for a similar end in the 400 medley relay (3:41.44).
Sandwiched between the two relays, Webster and Zemanek went four-five in the 500 freestyle (Webster – 4:50.39/Zemanek – 4:52.41). Kelly added a seventh-place finish in the 100 butterfly, and Bowden finished in the same spot in the 50 breaststroke to round out the Maroon and Gold's top eight efforts.
The Cadets totaled 140 points during the first day. They stood fourth just 90 points behind Roger Williams for third. Traditional NEISDA powers Keene St. and Bentley were locked in a nip-and-tuck battle for first with Keene at 355 and Bentley at 308.
Norwich's women's squad was topped by a pair of 20th-place marks in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
Coach Laura Dunn's teams resume action at the 2012 NEISDAs Saturday, Feb. 18. Competition begins at 10 a.m. in the preliminaries and 5:30 p.m. in the finals.
