Simon Breaks Backstroke Record in Win Over Allegheny

ERIE, Pa. – Dan Simon (Harrison City, PA/Penn Trafford) broke a pool and school record in the 50 backstroke, just one of many highlights in the men's swimming and diving 137-93 victory over Allegheny on Friday night in the Junker Center Pool.

The Lions won eight out of 13 events, including the opening 200 yard medley relay where Simon broke the records, to defeat the Gators for the first time in the last four meetings.

Simon was the lead-off swimmer in the relay and touched with a split time of 23.61 in the 50 backstroke reset the old records he held.  Simon, Clay Altemose (Apollo, PA/Apollo-Ridge), Justin Pritchard (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) and Andrew Opalewski (Slippery Rock, PA/Slippery Rock) combined for a winning time of 1:37.64.

Behrend had the quick lead but after Allegheny took 1-2 in the 1650 and swept the 200 free, the Gators jumped ahead. From here on out, the Lions dominated starting with Everett Sargent (Gibsonia, PA/Pine-Richland) leading a 1-2-3 finish in the 50 free with a time of 22.28. Pritchard and Eric Lasher (Edinboro, PA/General McLane) were close second (22.71) and third (22.84), respectively.

After four events, Behrend was able to regain the lead at 38-36. In the following 200 IM, Eric Peirce (Harmony, PA/Seneca Valley) touched first with a time of 2:06.30.

Diver Andrew Neder (Fairview, PA/Fairview) took second in the 1-meter diving, falling short 11.50 points. He got revenge on Vince Palmer on the three meter, taking first place with a score of 237.30.

Altemose then earned his first individual victory in the 100 butterfly, posting a time six seconds faster than second place (53.58). Javier Solivan (San Juan, Puerto Rico/UHS) helped Behrend win the 100 freestyle with a top time of 48.66, while Simon came in first place in the 100 backstroke (52.58). Peirce was second (58.76) and Lasher was third (58.88) in the backstroke.

Sargent, Simon, Solivan and Altemose joined forces to get the final win of the night for the Lions in the 200 free relay. The foursome hit the wall in 1:28.09 to secure the non-conference victory.

Behrend returns to action tomorrow against W&J. Meet time is 1 p.m.