W&M Men Third after First Morning at Terrapin Invitational

Six Advance to Championship Finals for Tribe

11/15/07 4:00PM

COLLEGE PARK, MD - William and Mary’s men’s swimming and diving team advanced six athletes to the championship finals and another four to the consolation finals in three swimming events this morning at the Terrapin Cup Invitational. The Tribe ended the morning third with 75 points, behind Connecticut (126) and West Chester (107).

In the 500 free, junior Shawn Matthews (Rumson, N.J.) swam the team’s season-best effort, 4:41.93, to qualify for the consolation finals. Sophomore Joe DeBiase (Moon Township, Pa.) and senior captain Alex Jendzejec (Reston, Va.) made the bonus consolation race, timing 4:45.89 and 4:47.36, respectively.

In the 200 IM, freshman Geoff Ramsdell (Richmond, Va.) was the Tribe’s top qualifier to the championship finals in 1:54.49, the seventh-best effort in school history. Also making the championship final were juniors Jason Brisson (Richmond, Va.), sixth in 1:55.70, and David Mangini (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), eighth in 1:56.86. Sophomore Marshall Raiskin (Orlando, Fla.) touched the wall in 1:59.74 to make the consolation finals, and freshman Jim Fenningham (Philadelphia, Pa.) is in the bonus consolation race after swimming 2:01.68.

The championship final of the 50 free will also feature three athletes from the College. Sophomore Kevin Gallagher (Bridgewater, N.J.) swam 21.34 to tie for fifth out of qualifying, and junior Nader Amer (Yorktown, Va.) and grad student Nick Duda (Vienna, Va.) tied for seventh with a time of 21.36. Freshmen Andrew Quesenberry (Kingsville, Md.) and Michael Naccarelli (Wallingford, Pa.) will battle in the consolation final after touching the wall in 21.57 and 21.62 seconds, respectively. Sophomores Kevin Lynch (Roanoke, Va.), tied for 17th in 21.73 seconds, and DeBiase, 22nd in 21.88 seconds, each qualified for the bonus consolation.

In the 1-Meter diving preliminaries, freshman Mike Newcomb (Williamsburg, Va.) posted a six-dive score of 152.50 to take 12th and capture five team points for the College.

This evening’s session will include all three finals heats for the 500 free, 200 IM, and 50 free, as well as the championship and consolation heats for the 200 free relay, 400 medley relay, and 1-Meter diving.

2007 Terrapin Cup Invitational
Standings After Thursday Morning
1. Connecticut 126
2. West Chester 107
3. WILLIAM AND MARY 75
4. Maryland 50
5. Drexel 25
6. Villanova 20
7. Mary Washington 0
Teams earned 11 points for every championship finalist and one point for every consolation finalist.