Towson Takes Two Relays, Slim Lead on First Night of CAA Men’s Championships

Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

Towson won both relays on the first night of the CAA Men’s Championships Thursday night, staking the Tigers to a slim lead with two days of the meet remaining.

Towson leads the way with 276.5 points, just 10.5 ahead of UNC Wilmington in the five-team event.

CAA Men’s Championships Scores

Towson 276.5
UNC Wilmington 266
Drexel 190
William & Mary 131.5
Delaware 119

Towson’s sprint depth, and a busy night for Michael Fazio, has the Tigers out front. Fazio led off the winning 200 free relay, the foursome with Cody Stewart, TJ Bearor and Ryan Baldino going 1:19.46, just over a second ahead of UNC Wilmington. Fazio then anchored the 400 medley relay to a similar margin of victory over UNCW, joining Evan Bota, Brian Benzing and Nick McClure to clock in at 3:11.85.

In between Fazio found time to finish second in the 50 free, while Benzing was second in the 200 individual medley.

Delaware’s Bryce Ciecko took home the 500 free, with a winning time of 4:27.82 to pull away from the field by more than four seconds. Second was Eric Cantrell of UNCW in 4:31.99, fractions ahead of Towson’s Ryan Bookstein and UNCW mate Zackary Whipple.

Henderson Louviere of UNCW won the night’s most intriguing race in the IM, getting to the wall first in 1:47.02. Just .05 behind was Benzing, a freshman. Two more rookies followed, with Drexel’s Kacper Karnik in 1:47.29 as part of the title hunt and Will Goldey of UNCW well back of the pace.

Fazio’s huge day was spoiled by E’Likai Crompton-English of UNC Wilmington, the sophomore transfer from Indy cracking 20 seconds to get the win in 19.89. Fazio was second in 20.12, while William & Mary’s Graham Hertweck and Baldino of Towson tied for third in 20.19. Towson’s Luke Schwar was fifth, and Bearor won the B final to score big points for the Tigers.

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