KEENE, N.H. - The Norwich University men's swimming & diving team opened the 2025-26 season in dominant fashion on Saturday afternoon, claiming five of the top 10 finishes at the Keene State College Sprint Pentathlon, including a second-straight individual title for junior Kristian Adlianitski (Cheshire, Conn.).

The unique meet format featured five sprint-distance events, including the 50-yard butterfly, 50-yard backstroke, 50-yard breaststroke, 50-yard freestyle, and 100-yard IM, with each swimmer's times combined into a cumulative total to determine final standings.  The afternoon also included 200-yard medley and freestyle relays.

Adlianitski shaved nearly three full seconds off his winning total from last year, clocking a meet-best 2:37.89 across the five events to defend his title.  Sophomore Drew Bylow (Monroe, Mich.) and senior Adrian Riendeau (Ridgecrest, Calif.) followed closely behind in second and third, turning in totals of 2:41.14 and 2:42.30, respectively.

Junior Andrew Clark (Acworth, Ga.) and sophomore Gabe Wettig (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) completed the Cadets' top-10 sweep, finishing seventh and 10th overall with totals of 2:50.67 and 2:54.15.

Norwich opened the meet with a strong second-place showing in the 200-yard medley relay.  The quartet of Riendeau, Bylow, Clark, and freshman Max Ansell (Red Bank, N.J.) posted a time of 1:43.44 to finish just behind Gordon College.

In the final event of the day, the 200-yard freestyle relay, the foursome of senior John Connor Hallstrom (Bethany, Conn.), sophomore Michael Carpenter (Gloversville, N.Y.), sophomore Noah Lowe (Latham, N.Y.), and Wettig combined for a third-place finish in 1:38.43.

MEN'S LEADERS:

• Junior Kristian Adlianitski (Cheshire, Conn.)
  • 1st, 2:37.89
• Sophomore Drew Bylow (Monroe, Mich.)
  • 2nd, 2:41.14
• Senior Adrian Riendeau (Ridgecrest, Calif.)
  • 3rd, 2:42.30
• Junior Andrew Clark (Acworth, Ga.)
  • 7th, 2:50.67
• Sophomore Gabe Wettig (Ballston Spa, N.Y.)
  • 10th, 2:54.15
• Senior John Connor Hallstrom (Bethany, Conn.)
  • 13th, 2:57.72
• Freshman Max Ansell (Red Bank, N.J.)
  • 17th, 3:01.06

Norwich will return to the pool on Saturday, Oct. 25, for its home opener against Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) foe Regis College at 11:00 a.m. at Goodyear Pool.  The meet kicks off a three-meet homestand for the Cadets, who will also host Husson University on Nov. 1 and Maine Maritime Academy on Nov. 8.