AKRON, Ohio-- Denison men's swimming & diving closed out the season-opening Akron Zips Classic in second place with 792.5 points. Miami University was the team champion with 1,142.5 points. Third place went to Xavier University with 663.5 points and fourth place went to Cleveland State with 590.5.
In the morning session, junior John Stauffer led Denison with a victory in the 400 IM with an NCAA 'B' cut time of 3:57.84. Seven Denison swimmers scored in the event. Following Stauffer was Mitch Williams (7th – 4:07.36), Eric Chimes (9th – 4:10.60), Ethan Bevill (11th - 4:11.54), Max Sternberg (12th - 4:11.87), Francis Biagioli (13th – 4:14.03) and Lukas Gately (15th – 4:20.56).
Six DU swimmers recorded top-15 finishes in the 200 free led by Drake Horton's runner-up finish in 1:41.92. James Baker followed in sixth in 1:43.64 and Bebe Wang was eighth in 1:44.29. Kyle Verstandig (10th – 1:44.62), Matt McHugh (14th – 1:45.45), and Eric Gerlach (15th – 1:45.75) rounded out the scoring in the 200 free.
Another runner-up finish was turned in by Richie Kurlich in the 100 breaststroke as he touched in 56.69. Noah Houskeeper took eighth in 58.99 and Aidan Lane was 16th with a time of 1:03.82.
In the 100 backstroke, Liam Picozzi finished sixth and Trey Ike was seventh. Picozzi finished in 51.78 while Ike clocked in at 51.84. Samuel Jo placed 11th in 53.16.
Kymani Senior logged a seventh-place finish in the 100 fly in 51.14 and Matt Reed tied for 16th in 52.42.
The only relay of the morning session was the 200 free relay and DU finished second as Verstandig, Senior, Ike and Horton finished in 1:23.16.
In the evening session, Kurlich logged a win and a 'B' cut in the 200 breaststroke in 2:00.52. Houskeeper finished in 11th place in 2:11.60.
Wang finished second in the 200 backstroke in 1:49.99 and Horton took silver in the 100 free with a time of 45.83. In the 200 fly, Williams paced Denison with a fifth-place finish and a time of 1:52.31.
A trio of Denison swimmers went 2-3-4 in the 1,650 freestyle, led by Dayen Wilson's time of 15:54.28. James Baker followed in third in 15:59.18 while Lukas Gately finished fourth with a time of 16:09.46. All three times were NCAA 'B' cuts.
The 400 free relay team of Horton, Ike, Wang, and Picozzi finished second with a time of 3:04.87. The 200 medley relay team of Picozzi, Kurlich, Senior and Horton were fifth in 1:34.05.
There were no diving events held at this competition.
Denison will travel to the University of Cincinnati next Saturday for a dual meet against the Bearcats slated for a 1 p.m. start.
