ITHACA, N.Y. - On a day filled with wins, finals appearances, and a statement relay performance, the Ithaca College men's swimming & diving team continued in first place at the Liberty League Championships. The Bombers hold 863 points, ahead of RIT (774.5) and RPI (467) at the midway point of the conference championship meet.
Graduate student
Matthew Mitros powered to the 100-yard butterfly title in 48.38, earning an NCAA B‑cut and claiming the event for the Bombers. Sophomore
James Moore joined him in the A‑final, placing sixth in 50.22. The time that Mitros put down also shattered the program record in the event, besting Lucas Zlehowsky (48.58) who held the record since 2015.
Ithaca stacked the 200 freestyle A‑final with three qualifiers, resulting in major points. Senior
Ryan Cooke led the charge for IC finishing second at 1:39.97 as he was closely followed by third and fourth place finishers,
Bennett Molitor-Kirsch (1:40.30) and
Kyle Kruppa (1:40.78).
First year
Ben Lajoie claimed his first Liberty League title in the 400 IM, pulling away late to touch in 4:05.21. Junior
Marshall Adams took fourth in 4:08.09, while sophomore
Elijah Gehman placed sixth (4:08.70). In the B‑final, senior
Matthew Janssen and sophomore
Nick Sosa went 1–2, finishing ninth (4:10.16) and tenth (4:11.49) overall.
The evening closed with a statement as the quartet of
Matthew Mitros,
Alec Kutsner,
Ryan Cooke, and
Spencer Alderson won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:21.27, an NCAA B‑cut that widened Ithaca's team lead.
Ithaca looks to continue its momentum on Friday as the Bombers look to dethrone four-time defending champion RIT with action again continuing at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and evening finals at 6 p.m. Events tomorrow include: 200-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke, 100-yard breaststroke, men's 1-meter diving, 200 medley relay and the 800-yard freestyle relay.
