GRANVILLE, Ohio – Facing off with the top-ranked Division III men's swimming program in the nation, the IUPUI men's swimming and diving teams took care of business Friday (Jan. 13), paddling to victory by a narrow 158-142 margin. The Jags took the top spot in nine out of 16 events, and received contributions from both seasoned vets as well as new faces.
The Jags were keyed to victory on the day by
Jared Allen and
Ben Levart, who each won a pair of individual events. Allen also helped take home the top-spot in two relay races.
IUPUI started the dual-meet with a first-place finish in the men's 200 Individual Medley Relay, as Allen,
Josh Barajas,
Landan Mintch, and newcomer
Vince Partlow locked up the top-spot with a 1:32.81 finish, just under half a second faster than the next team. Partlow also had a second-place 51.71 showing in the 100 Fly.
Levart followed suit with his first victory in the 1000 Free, logging a 9:29.83 gallop, just a few seconds off his program-record fastest time. It was the sixth-fastest finish in the event out of all Summit League swimmers this season. Reigning Summit League Swimmer of the Week
David Sweezer finished the event in second-place, touching the wall in 9:39.52. Levart and Sweezer went one and two again in the 500 Free, with Levart finishing in 4:37.64, more than two seconds faster than Sweezer's 4:39.95.
Jackson Sandala left his imprint on the day's action, as the first-year Jag pushed to a first-place finish in the 200 Free with a 1:41.48. He and Allen powered the men's 400 Free Relay to a first-place finish as well, as teammates
Lennart Kuester and
Trenton Wolfe combined for a 3:05.35 time. Kuester, who has missed extended time due to injury, also finished third in the 100 Back (53.48) behind teammate
Matt Stowe who had a second-place 53.27 showing. Kuester then logged a 46.81 second-place finish in the 100 Free, an even in which the Jags swept the top-three spots. Allen took first with a 46.26 touch while Sandala landed third (46.85).
Allen added to his big day with the fastest time in the fastest event, a 21.02 touch in the 50 Free.
The diving team did their part in contributing to the Jags victory, as
Krisztian Somhegyi catapulted to a 362.93 score in the three-meter springboard event, the top overall finish. Teammate
Mitch Mastey finished in third with a 319.13 score.
The duo would take the second and third-place spots in the one-meter event, with Somhegyi logging a 314.78 scorecard. Mastey jumped to a 273.83.
The Jags will now wrap up the regular season next weekend at home, as the team welcomes Wabash Friday (Jan. 20), followed by Notre Dame Saturday (Jan. 21).
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