Middlebury: Wennberg & Blais Step Forward for Lady Mules While Men Notch 7 Wins

Mason Roberts won two events and helped a relay team to a victory as the Colby College men's swimming and diving team had six individual winners and the relay win in a 164-127 loss to Middlebury College on Saturday.

"This is the best we've raced Middlebury on the men's side since probably 1989," Colby head coach Tom Burton said. "More than 80 percent of the swims were season bests, and we had amazing spirit and energy. Colby was ahead of Middlebury until the 500 freestyle."

Roberts won the 50-meter breaststroke (28.00) and 100 breaststroke (1:01.97). Brian Gilligan added a win in the 50 backstroke (25.68), Ryan Trafton took the 100 butterfly (54.36), John Madeira captured the 400 individual medley (4:26.16), and Vincent Galea was a winner in the 100 freestyle (49.44) for his first collegiate victory.

"All results aside, this was by far the most successful meet of the year and it foreshadows nicely what we are capable of as we move toward the NESCAC Championships," Burton said.

Gilligan, Roberts, Trafton, and Galea also joined forces to win the 200 medley relay in 1:39.50. Gilligan also had seconds in the 100 backstroke (55.21) and the 100 individual medley (57.64). Trafton added a second in the 50 butterfly (24.18) and Galea was runner-up in the 50 freestyle (22.44). The Mules also received seconds from Ray Rieling in the 200 freestyle (1:49.74) and Stan Abrams in the 3-meter diving (132.07 points).

For the women, Jess Blais won the 100 backstroke and took second in the 50 backstroke  and recently returned from abroad Rosie Wennberg added a victory in 50 butterfly (27.89)  in a 173-103 loss to Middlebury College on Saturday.  Blais had a time of 1:03.71 in the 100 backstroke victory and was runner-up in the 50 backstroke (29.81).   Mandy Ferguson also had a first in the 500 freestyle (5:16.83) and was second in the 200 freestyle (1:59.47).

"The seniors stepped up and led the charge," head coach Tom Burton said. "Ferguson, Blais, (Charlotte) Veazie, and (Sarah) Hansen had tremendous meets. They all posted some of their best-ever in-season pre-taper times. They looked strong and led by example."