Seton Hall University
Montclair State
Mitchell Sets Record; MS&D Wins
10/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. – For the fifth straight year, the Seton Hall men’s swimming & diving team emerged victorious from its season opener, easily moving past Montclair State on Tuesday night by a final score of 139-95.
After sending 16 members of the team to the BIG EAST Championships in 2012, the Pirates saw diver Ben Mitchell (Milford, Pa.) and swimmers Austin Acheson (Olathe, Kan.) and Tim Bosse (New Windsor, N.Y.) etch their names on the list of competitors for 2013 in just the first meet of the season.
The highlight of the night was without a doubt the performance of Mitchell from the diving board, as he turned in scores of historic proportions. Twice performing a six-dive set from the one-meter board, Mitchell shattered his own previous school record each time.
In the first round, Mitchell wasted no time in displaying his improved form, diving to a then record score of 317.25. The record status would be short-lived however as the sophomore proceeded to twist and tuck his way to a final mark of 322.88 in round two. Both scores far exceed the previous standard of 287.25 that Mitchell set in just his fourth meet as a Pirate last season.
His 322.88 represents the highest six-dive score ever posted by any Pirate diver, regardless of distance or gender.
With the gaudy final numbers, Mitchell not only qualified for the BIG EAST Championships but earned a return trip to Indianapolis to compete in the NCAA Zone Diving Championships.
Acheson, who led the team by meeting automatic qualifying standards in seven different events last season, advanced to the 2013 conference championship via his performance in the 100-yard backstroke. The senior captain won the event by finishing in 54.82 and was followed to the wall by the freshman Bosse who clocked in at 55.15, also under the automatic qualifying mark.
Junior Evan Forbes (Cinnaminson, N.J.) rounded-out the top-three in the event by finishing in 57.67.
Acheson was just one of five different individual victors in the pool for the Pirates as the team put together a steadily dominant effort. Bosse swam to his first collegiate win in the 200-yard freestyle, heading an all-SHU top-three that included juniors Tyler Naumann (Middletown, Conn.) and Jon Ropson (McKinney, Texas).
The Hall’s other senior captain, Ryan O'Shaughnessy (Coral Springs, Fla.) led the squad by taking first place points in two events on the night. O’Shaughnessy’s first win came in another top-three sweep for the Pirates as he touched first in the 200-yard individual medley in a time of 2:01.59. Freshman Andrew William (Bayonne, N.J.) was right on his heels and finished less than a second later, ahead of junior Greg Black (Easton, Pa.) in third.
O’Shaughnessy’s second victory came in the 100-yard freestyle where his 48.78 mark was enough to claim first place points. Junior Matt Benson (Overland Park, Kan.) touched in 50.48 to take third.
Freshman Joey Giovine kicked off his collegiate career with a win, bypassing all competitors in the 1,000 yard freestyle. Sophomore Richard Lessard (Wethersfield, Conn.) contributed third-place points in the event.
Senior Brian Pauling (Sewell, N.J.) produced a victory in the 500-yard freestyle, pacing the field with a time of 4:56.83. Freshman Steve Hausmann (North Attleboro, Mass.) finished just Pauling in second (5:00.53).
Pauling also scored fourth place points in the 50-yard freestyle, a race that included a tie for second between two Pirates in Joey Lacus (Wethersfield, Conn.) and James Logan (Wallingford, Pa.) who each posted a time of 22.14.
It was the second time that two members of the SHU had tied for second in an event on the evening. Ropson and junior Ian DeLisio (Woodstock, N.Y.) had previously registered matching times of 54.74 in the 100-yard butterfly.
Lacus also posted the fastest 100-yard breaststroke time of the meet (1:03.98) in the final individual event.
In relay competition, Seton Hall began the dual meet showdown by occupying the top two spots in the 200-yard medley race. The Pirates then closed the competition by posting the fastest 200-yard breaststroke time of the night.
SHU will be back in action on Thursday, Oct. 18 when they travel to Lawrenceville to take on defending MAAC Champion Rider. In last year’s season opener, SHU defeated the visiting Broncs by a sound 173-126 margin. Start-time is slated for 4:00 p.m.
