Lions Place Third at Pitt-Bradford Panther Relays

BRADFORD, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's and women's swimming started the 2012-13 season competing at the seventh annual Pitt-Bradford Panther Relays on Saturday afternoon.

The Lions combined for a team score of 134 to place third out of seven teams. Notre Dame College came in first place (194) and Pitt-Bradford was second with a 142.

Swimming in all relays on the day, the men's side started the day with a second place in the 300 yard butterfly relay consisting of Clay Altemose (Apollo, PA/Apollo-Ridge), Ryan Mitcheltree (Moon Township, PA/Moon),  Javier Solivan (San Juan, Puerto Rico/UHS) and Scott Romanko (Plum, PA/Plum) in a time of 2:38.72, just .13 seconds away from first.

The Lions first win was in the 300 backstroke relay. Altemose, Eric Lasher (Edinboro, PA/General McLane), Gabe Romano (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) and Dan Simon (Harrison City, PA/Penn Trafford) clocked in at 2:43.00 for the victory and 14 points.

The women took second in the 300 backstroke with a time of 3:27.96 thanks to the foursome of MaryEllen Spooner (Lockhaven, PA/West Springfield) , Lauren Rosato (Pittsburgh, PA/Chartiers Valley), Alex Isaacson (Williamsport, PA/Williamsport) and Emily Spicher (Falls Creek, PA/DuBois).

In the mixed 200 freestyle relay, Romano, Steve Torre (McDonald, PA/South Fayette), Spooner and Rosato teamed up for a time of 1:40.29 for third place in the co-ed relay. In the second mixed race, this time the 400 medley relay, Altemose, Spooner, Justin Pritchard (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) and Meagan Daily (Pittsburgh, PA/Our Lady of Sacred Heart) tallied a time of 4:16.46. The final mixed relay race was much like the first two, ending in second place. Altemose, Spooner, Rosato and Solivan had a time of 3:43.54 in the 400 freestyle relay.

The men added another first-place finish and three second-place finishes for 44 points. In the 300 yard breaststroke relay, Torre, Romanko, Prtichard, and Chris Bendt (Franklin, PA/Franklin) touched the wall in 3:14.93. In the distance relay (800 freestyle), Solivan, Romano, Eric Peirce (Harmoney, PA/Seneca Valley) and Brian Mong (Franklin, PA/Franklin) were .09 seconds away from setting the relay record with a time of 7:38.06.

In the 500 freestyle cesscendo relay, Dan Stafford (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) swam the opening leg followed by Simon, Peirce and Mong to combine for a time of 4:33.53 for second place.

The Lions won the 400 yard medley individual relay thanks to Peirce, Simon, Torre and Solivan. The team finished in 3:49.78.

Behrend returns to action on Saturday at Bethany. The non-conference meet begins at 1 p.m.