Waterville, Maine- The Colby Men's Swimming and Diving team hosted the University of Maine Black Bears for the inaugural meet at the new Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center.

With home fans hollering in the stands the meet started off with a splash for the Mules who won the first event with a time of 1:33.17 in the 200 Medley Relay swam by Jake Guentherman, Jacob Gray, Neil Mortimer, and John Connors. This set the tone for today's races and dives for Colby where they went on to win 12 events and defeat the Black Bears 183-97. Freshman Neil Mortimer had this to say about today's meet, "Colby's men were fired up and swam incredibly fast today. I'm happy to be part of this team and it was great to be part of what we accomplished. The coaching staff prepared us incredibly well so that we could swim fast and I couldn't be happier."  An overall feeling of joy and gratitude for the opportunity to race was felt throughout the space.

Several of the Mules had stellar performances that led to 11 swimmers placing in the top ten fastest times in Colby College history, across eleven individual events. Leading the way was junior captain John Connors with two first place finishes in the 200 Freestyle (1:44.76) and the 100 Freestyle (46.63). He also contributed to two first place relay finishes in the 200 Medley Relay and 200 Freestyle Relay. Men's diving kept the good times rolling with all four of the Colby divers scoring personal  bests for the one and three meter events. First year Sam Cahaly led the Mules winning both the one meter (291.20) and three meter (261.30) and breaking a 20-year old school record in the one meter. Senior diver Charlie Allen had this to say after the meet, "It was really special to put on a show for the home fans in the new pool. We dove our tails off today and it was the most fun I've had on a board." Overall, the Mules set twelve pool records today.

For the Black Bears, senior Kazu Temple led the team with two first place finishes in the 100 Breastroke (56.77) and the 200 Breaststroke (2:07.16). Senior Andy Sprague also led the Black Bears with a first place finish in the 100 Fly (50.85) and a second place finish in the 50 Freestyle (21.43). Overall, Maine contributed to setting four pool records out of sixteen.

First place finishes for the men:

• -200 Yard Medley Relay: Jake Guentherman, Jacob Gray, Neil Mortimer, John Connors 
• -1000 Yard Freestyle: Anthony Minickiello 9:44.22
• -200 Yard Freestyle: John Connors 1:44.76
• -100 Yard Backstroke: Jake Guentherman 52.43
• -200 Yard Butterfly: Isaac Marlott 1:55.13
• -50 Yard Freestyle: Neil Mortimer 21.18
• -1 Meter Diving: Sam Cahaly 292.20
• -3 Meter Diving: Sam Cahaly 261.30
• -100 Yard Freestyle: John Connors 46.63
• -500 Yard Freestyle: Anthony Minickiello 4:41.00
• -100 Yard Individual Medley: Jake Guentherman 53.29
• -200 Yard Freestyle Relay: John Connors, Allen Zhu, Niels Wu, Jacob Gray

The Mules will be back next year to hopefully start off a more normal season!