Pirates Jockey For Position on Day 3

2/23/2019 1:33:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving

East Meadow, N.Y. – The Seton Hall men's swimming & diving team currently stands in third place and the women's team is in fourth through three days at the BIG EAST Championship held at the Nassau Aquatic Center on Long Island.

For the men on Friday night, senior Lior Grubert (Yehud-Monosson, Israel) finished third in the 400 IM with a time of 3:57.64, while freshman Caleb Smith (Charlottesville, Va.) placed seventh and senior Ivan Michalovic (Glen Mills, Pa.) finished eighth with respective times of 4:01.44 and 4:02.03. Also scoring points for The Hall in the consolation was junior Jonathan Bar-Eli (Givat-Ela, Israel) and freshman Kyle Haflich (Fishers, Ind.).

Sophomore Liam Cosgrove (Sea Girt, N.J.) won the 100 fly with a program-record time of 48.41. The Pirates added crucial points in the event with a 10th and 11th-place finish by junior Sam Hendrix (Hillsborough, N.J.) and freshman Ben Puglessi (Ada, Mich.) with respective times of 49.78 and 49.91.

LIAM COSGROVE! 100 FLY BIG EAST CHAMP! SCHOOL RECORD!

HERO.#HALLin pic.twitter.com/84sOIarn8H
— Champs. (@SHUSwimDive) February 22, 2019

In the 200 free, freshman Ben LaClair (Belchertown, Mass.) picked up his second top-5 finish of the weekend with a bronze medal, posting a time of 1:38.88. Junior Joe Gibson (Chicago, Ill.) took sixth after swimming a 1:40.53.

Junior Josh Tosoni (Arnold, Md.) captured a silver medal in the 100 breast after touching the wall in 54.95. Senior Chris Tucker (Middletown, N.J.) and Cosgrove went 8-9 in the 100 back, followed by Puglessi in 12th.

On the women's side, junior Elizabeth Sargent (Trumbull, Conn.) took third in the 400 IM with a time of 2:24.54. Sophomore Julie Stankiewicz (Metuchen, N.J.) finished fourth in the 100 back after touching the wall in 56.14.

ELLIE SARGENT!! A 4:24.54 in the 400 IM!! Big points for The Hall! 🙌🔵⚪️#HALLin pic.twitter.com/xiHW1MOnwC
— Champs. (@SHUSwimDive) February 22, 2019

In the 200 free, senior Courtney McCardle (Hurley, N.Y.) finished seventh with a time of 1:51.35, while junior Sara Ouellette (Granby, Conn.) finished 15th after swimming a 1:54.25.

Junior Jordan Decker (Mason, Ohio) grabbed momentum for the Pirates with a third-place finish in the 100 breast (1:04.42). Sophomore Alexa Kolodgie (Baltimore, Md.), junior Grace Endersby (Caldwell, N.J.), and junior Casey Young (Macungie, Pa.) finished 11th, 13th and 16th, respectively.

Looking ahead, it's Championship Saturday on Long Island as each team will participate in preliminary swims at 10 a.m. followed by finals at 6 p.m. The meet will be streamed live by the BIG EAST Digital Network via FOX Sports GO.

2019 BIG EAST Champions
50 Free – Dakota Williams – 20.05
100 Fly – Liam Cosgrove – 48.41

Men's Standings
1. Georgetown – 522
2. Xavier – 500.5
3. Seton Hall – 451
4. Villanova – 434.5
5. Providence – 179

Women's Standings
1. Villanova – 671.5
2. Xavier – 449
3. Georgetown – 390.5
4. Seton Hall – 293
5. Butler – 159
6. Providence – 156