ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's swimming and diving team holds a commanding lead after day three of the 2017 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championships on Friday in the Junker Pool.
The Lions, who recorded 290 points over the first two days, almost doubled their total and remain in first place with 521 points through 26 events. Pitt-Bradford is second (273), Alfred State is third (246), Cabrini is in fourth (196) and Penn State Altoona is in fifth (176).
Mark Patterson (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin) continues to shine for Behrend during the championships. He was five seconds faster than second place to win the 200 freestyle for the second year in a row. Patterson touched in 1:42.28 and was seventh hundredths (.08) from breaking the AMCC meet and open records.
Behrend had four finalists in the 200 freestyle, with Patterson in first, Ryan Siggins (Erie, PA/Iroquois) in second (1:47.40), Mike Geary (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst) in fourth (1:49.42) and Quinn Fischer (Fairview, PA/Cathedral Prep) in fifth.
Nick Kost was .47 seconds shy of hitting an NCAA "B" cut time in the 400 IM. The senior won gold with a time of 4:07.87 to become a four-time AMCC champion in this event. The Lions had three other swimmers make the "A" finals. Brady Mattson (Wilmington, DE/Delaware Military Academy) placed third in 4:28.18, Keith Powell (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) was fourth in 4:30.65 and Nathan Wagner (Ypsilanti, MI/Lincoln) took fifth (4:35.46).
In the 100 butterfly, Nick Roth (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) was slightly behind in the first three laps and pulled it out on the last turn to beat Todd Walker of Cabrini with a winning time of 51.58.
The next event of the night was the 100 breaststroke. Once again, Behrend was represented in the finals with three swimmers and took places 1-3-6. The tight race was won by Ryan Elsey (1:01.14), while Blair Carson (Wellsboro, PA/Wellsboro) took third (1:02.11) and Justin Spence was sixth in 1:05.54.
The lone relay of the night was the 200 medley relay. The team of Jeremy Brosius (Hatboro, PA/Hatboro-Horsham), Carson, Powell and Fischer placed second with a time of 1:40.41. Fischer anchored in a personal best time of 21.90.
Behrend closed out the night in the 100 backstroke. Nikos Koufos (Gettysburg, PA/Gettysburg) came in fifth (57.20) and Brosius followed in sixth (57.23)
The Lions return to action tomorrow for the final day of the AMCC Championships. Prelims begin at 10 a.m. followed by finals at 6 p.m.
