Men’s swimming team beats Alma, 124-113

OLIVET, Mich. – The Olivet College men's swimming team improved its record to 6-1, including a perfect 3-0 mark against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) opponents with a 124-113 win over Alma College today at the Upton Center Pool in Olivet.

The Comets dominated the meet by turning in the fastest time in 13-of-14 events. Olivet won the first event, the 200 medley relay. The team of senior Austin Munn (Pinckney), sophomore Brian Fiorillo (Southgate/Anderson), senior Mike Harden (St. Johns) and sophomore Ben Aldrich (DeWitt/St. Johns) stopped the clock first at 1:40.03, which was more than three seconds faster than the runner-up relay.

Freshman Jimmy DeRupa (Trenton) followed with a first-place time of 10:51.82 in the 1,000 freestyle. Olivet had 1-2 finishes in the next three events. Aldrich took first in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:49.90, while sophomore Tyler Russell (Bay City/Central) placed second at 1:54.78.

Harden won the 100 backstroke in 57.58 seconds and junior Joel Knight (Battle Creek/Lakeview) was second in 58.36 seconds. Senior Matt Marquette (Kalamazoo/Loy Norrix) finished first in the 100 breaststroke at 1:03.71, followed by sophomore Nick Aldrich (St. Johns) was next at 1:04.06.

Freshman Georges Aoun (Barquisimeto, Venezuela/Unidad Educativa Colegio) won the 200 butterfly at 2:00.28. Fiorillo finished first in the 50 freestyle at 21.71 seconds. Munn touched the wall first in the 100 freestyle at 48.40 seconds.

Olivet had the two fastest times in the 200 backstroke. Freshman Alec Thurston (Kingsford) was quickest at 2:06.09, and sophomore Korey Mervenne (Jenison) was next at 2:08.64. The Comets then turned in the three fastest three times in the 200 breaststroke. Freshman Phil Bielak (Brownstown/Woodhaven) went fastest at 2:21.51, followed by sophomore Adam Rhein (Leonard/Romeo), 2:23.97; and Russell, 2:24.08.

Freshman Brandon McShane (Southgate/Anderson) clocked-in with the quickest time in the 500 freestyle at 5:08.61. Another 1-2-3 Olivet performance was in the 100 butterfly. Nick Aldrich was first at 55.48 seconds, followed by freshman Phil Barone, Jr. (Perrysburg, Ohio/St. Francis de Sales) at 55.98 seconds and junior Nick Edgar (Lansing/Everett) at 56.91 seconds.

Barone, Jr. recorded the fastest time in the 200 individual medley at 2:07.46. Knight was second quickest at 2:10.78.

The only event the Comets failed to post the fastest time in was the final event, the 800 freestyle relay. The quartet of Munn, Harden, Fiorillo and Derupa was second at 7:27.21.

The Comets are back in action next Saturday, Jan. 28, when it hosts Kalamazoo College at 1 p.m. Before the meet, Olivet will recognize its seniors, who will be swimming in their final home meet.