Duda, Brisson, Matthews, Mangini Will Try for Conference Titles on Saturday

William and Mary Sends Eight to the Finals

03/01/08 12:55PM

FAIRFAX, VA - William and Mary’s men’s swimming and diving team sent eight athletes to the finals on the last day of the CAA Championships placing four in the championship flight and four in consolations across four events. The total doesn’t even include 3-Meter diving program nor the 1650 free both of which will begin this afternoon. In the team race, William and Mary held at sixth with 267 points, while UNC Wilmington extended its lead over the field with 536 points.

Saturday's Preliminary Results

School record-holder Shawn Matthews (Rumson, N.J.) started the Tribe off on the right foot, earning the top seed in tonight’s 200 backstroke championship with a time of 1:49.54. Classmate David Mangini (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) also advanced to the championship heat, touching the wall in a personal-best 1:52.21 to rank fourth all-time at the College. Sophomore Marshall Raiskin (Orlando, Fla.) advanced to the consolation heat with a time of 1:51.15.

Grad student Nick Duda (Vienna, Va.) powered to a personal-record in the 100 free, timing 46.02 to advance as the fourth seed in the championship heat. His time moves him to fourth on the all-time performer’s list. Freshman Geoff Ramsdell (Richmond, Va.) and sophomore Kevin Gallagher (Bridgewater, N.J.) each advanced to the consolation heat after timing 46.87 and 47.04, respectively.

In the 100 breast, junior Jason Brisson (Richmond, Va.) is the fourth seed after touching the wall in 2:06.07. Finally, in the 200 fly, junior Nader Amer (Yorktown, Va.) advanced to the consolation finals after timing a personal-record 1:55.39 to become the ninth-fastest swimmer ever at the College in that event.

The preliminaries of the 3-Meter diving start at 1 p.m., and will be followed immediately by the consolation finals. The finals of the 1,650 free start at 3:30 p.m., and the championship session for all events will begin at 6 p.m.

CAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships
1. UNC Wilmington 536
2. Old Dominion 467
3. George Mason 383
4. Delaware 368
5. Drexel 324
6. WILLIAM AND MARY 267
7. Towson 266