Jan. 17, 2009

Results

FAIRFAX, Va. - In their final regular season home meet of the season, the George Mason men's swimming and diving team edged Towson, 150.5-149.5, while the Patriot women fell to the Tigers, 171-129, in Colonial Athletic Association action Saturday afternoon at the Jim McKay Natatorium.

After defeating the Tigers earlier this season at the CAA Pod Meet, the Patriot men saw eight individual victories carry them to their second CAA victory of the year. On the women's side, Mason totaled eight first-place finishes as well but was unable to earn its first conference win of the year.

Two freshman triple-event winners highlighted the day for Mason. For the men, Preston Wolter earned victories in the 500-yard and 1,000-yard freestyle with times of 4:55.17 and 9:50.25, respectively. His time of 1:57.44 in the 200-yard butterfly was good for first as well.

Ashley Danner tallied three victories as well, winning the 100-yard (1:03.54) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:19.33) as well as the 200-yard individual medley (2:05.89).

Mason's men's squad also took home first place in five different events. Freshman Max Tyburski won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:44.06, junior Ryan David topped the field in the 100-yard backstroke in 52.75, and the 200-yard medley relay team of David, senior Ross Redcay, junior Tad Ogren and sophomore Spencer Roe touched the wall in 1:37.60.

The Patriots swept both diving events, as senior Ryan Metzker won the 1-meter competition with a score of 294.75 while freshman Derrick Butts earned the 3-meter crown with a score of 318.45.

The women's team also dominated off the diving board, with sophomore Lisa Faulkner winning the 1-meter dive with a mark of 285.59, while freshman Kristen Meier's score of 260.47 was the highest in the 3-meter. Senior Mary Beth Cheslock won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.15, while classmate Allie Smith took home first in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:00.82.

In relay action, the squad of freshman Nicole Harmon, Danner, junior Caitlin Impink and Cheslock captured the 200-yard medley relay title in 1:47.03.

During the meet, the nine-person Mason senior class was honored for their contributions to the program. The seniors are Cheslock, Smith and Brittany Cochrane on the women's side, and Metzker, Redcay, Ellis Domenech, Nick Langley, Justin Mallette, and Damian Rodino for the men.

Up next for the Patriots is a trip to West Point, N.Y., where Mason will face Army, American and CAA foe Old Dominion on Jan. 26 at 1 p.m.