Swim Teams Stay Strong At 2011 Metropolitan Conference Championships

Piscataway, N.J.-The University of Bridgeport swimming teams held firm at the 2011 Metropolitan Conference Championships taking place in Piscataway, N.J. on the campus of Rutgers University, as the UB men ended the second of three days of competition in third place out of 18 teams with 564 points, and the Purple Knights women were in fifth place out of 19 teams with 567 points.  On the men's side, The College of New Jersey is in first place with 1014 points followed by the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy with 661 points.  TCNJ also leads on the women's side with 1072.5 points followed by C.W. Post in second with 640.5 points, Southern Connecticut State University in third with 613.5 points and Rowan in fourth with 596 points.

For the UB men, the Purple Knights won one relay and three individual events on Saturday night. The men's 200-yard Medley Relay team of Oscar Pereiro, Piotr Safronczyk Toni Valcicc and Nik Savic took first place with a time of 1:30.732 which is the seconds fastest time so far this season in Division II.  It is also a team, conference and pool record time in the event.

In individual men's events, freshman Florian Mehlan won the 200-yard Free in a school record and NCAA "B" cut time of 1:40.97.

Junior Piotr Safronczyk won the 100-yard Breaststroke with a time of 55.85 (NCAA "B" Cut) and freshman Alejandro Roberto was third in the same event with a time of 57.82 (NCAA "B" Cut)

In the men's 100-yard Backstroke, Oscar Pereiro won the event with an NCAA "A" Cut, school and conference record plus the fastest time in Division II so far this season of 49.82.  Nik Savic was second at 51.40 (NCAA "B" Cut).

In the men's 100-yard Butterfly, sophomore Eddie Phillips took third place with a time of 51.72

On the women's side, freshman Sonia Arau won the 400-yard IM in an NCAA "A" cut time of 4:24.22. Junior Maris Visse was third in the same event with a time of 4:35.91 (NCAA "B" Cut).

In the women's 100-yard Backstroke, Sandra Schmitz was second with a time of 59.17 and freshman Karen Barboza was third with a time of 59.51.  Both of those times are NCAA "B" Cuts.

In the women's 100-yard Butterfly, sophomore Noufissa Chbihi was fifth in a time of 58.70 (NCAA "B" Cut).

In women's relay events, the 800-yard Free team of, Sandra Schmitz,
Maris Visse, Sonia Arau and Noufissa Chbihi took second with a time of 7:40.16 (NCAA "B" Cut), and the 200 Medley team of Sonia Arau, Ilka Oberle, Maris Visse and Roxy Purcelea was third with a time of 1:38.46.

Action wraps up on Sunday in the 2011 Metropolitan Conference Championships.