The Michigan State Spartan men have a slight advantage over Buffalo and Army through the first day of the two-day triangle meet hosted by the Buffalo Bulls. The Spartan women trail against both teams, although there is not much separation in any of the scores.
As it stands now, the Spartans lead Buffalo 93-74 and Army 88.5-78.5. Army leads Buffalo 93-74.
On the Women’s side, the Spartans trail Buffalo 87-80 and Army 91-76. The Buffalo women lead Army 93-74.
Men:
On the men’s side, Buffalo opened up the night with a win in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:31.78. Michigan state was second with a 1:32.23, and Army came in third with a 1:33.80. Army’s Christopher Szekely had the fastest split on the freestyle leg with a 20.40.
Michigan State came back with a 9:32.53 in the 1000 from Joseph Szczupakiewicz. His teammates Jon Burke and David Zoltowski were third and fifth, finishing in 9:36.11and 9:43.48, respectively. Army placed second behind Casey Woodenburg’s 9:35.69 and fourth with Clay Harmon’s 9:39.76. Billy Patrum placed sixth for Buffalo, the highest finish for the Bulls, almost four seconds out of fifth with a 9:47.24.
Lachlan McLeish kept the momentum rolling for the Spartans with a 1:39.82 in the 200 freestyle. However, Army was quick as well, with a second, third, and fourth, from Chris Szekely in 1:41.71, Evin Rude in 1:41.85, and Devin McCall in 1:42.33 respectively.
The Spartans got another win in the 100 back, this time from Alex Trompke, who came in at 50.54, but Army and Buffalo were not far off. Army’s Will Vianna was 51.30 for second, and Buffalo’s Jon Ekas was 51.43 to round out the top three.
Just when it seemed like Michigan State and Army would pull away, Buffalo had a strong performance in the 100 breast, taking first, second, and fifth. Itai De La Vega was 56.73 and Scott Huang was 57.15 for first and second for the Bulls. Alec Kandt of Michigan Sate was 57.59 for third, while Army’s Samuel Mo was 57.76 for fourth. Garrett Clarke was fifth for Buffalo in 58.19
Michigan State then came back and won the 200 fly with a 1:52.71 from Nathaniel Weeks, but Army was second, fourth and fifth. Vianna was 1:53.31 for the Black Knights, while Alex Duffy was 1:53.90 for Michigan State for third. Jason Rodriguez and Zach Blankenbeker finished in fourth in 1:54.02, and fifth in 1:54.44 for Army.
In the 50 free, Army came away with a win in 21.07 from Chris Szeleky. Second third and fourth were a tight finish. Buffalo freshman Oliver Patrouch, who is only 17, was second in 21.49. Michigan State scored third and fourth place finishes from Nick Leshok in 21.52 and Jacob Moore in 21.63.
The 200 IM was won by Army’s Mo in 1:52.99, more than a second ahead of the next closest finisher, Michigan State’s Weeks, who was 1:58.18. Matt Biatara was third for Buffalo in 1:54.36.
Army won the final event of the evening, the 800 free relay, in 6:49.52, two seconds ahead of Michigan State. The Spartan’s were leading going into the final leg of the relay, with Alex McLeish, Nick Leshok, and Trompke giving Adam Marsh a 5:06.29 to 5:09.15 advantage over Army, but Army’s Vianna out-split Marsh 1:40.37 to 1:45.32. to secure the win.
In men’s diving, Brennan Labar won the one meter for Michigan State with a 317.10.
Women’s
The women’s meet followed a similar pattern as the men, with the three teams trading wins all evening long.
Buffalo took home a win in the medley relay by a convincing 1.16 second margin, in 1:45.50, thanks to a 24.75 split on the butterfly leg from Taylor Steffl. Army finished second in 1:46.56, and Michigan State was third with a 1:46.97.
Buffalo followed up the relay with another big win in the 1000. Jessica Powers was 10:15.39, almost six seconds ahead of Becca Berman of Michigan State, who was second with a 10:21.37. Hannah Miller was third for Buffalo with a 10:22.72. Army’s Sabrina Mortell was the highest finisher for the Black Knights, taking fifth in 10:27.74.
The Bulls kept rolling early in the meet, with Spencer Rodriguez and Jessica Powers finishing in 1:54.63 and 1:54.64 to go first and second in the 200 free. Michigan State’s Hannah Pugh and Haley Kornburger were third and fourth in 1:55.23 and 1:56.29, and Army’s Bridget Ritter and Kristen Barta were fifth and sixth in 1:56.63 and 1:57.14.
Army took the 100 back in 58.05 from Kelly Hamilton, but Buffalo was second behind Melissa Trail’s 58.08. Madison Nowak was third in 59.35 for Michigan State. Buffalo finished fourth and fifth, with a 1:00.52 from Emily Nelson and a 1:00.54 from Gloria Melofchik.
Michigan State’s Shelby Lacy won the 100 breast in 1:05.45, followed by Army’s Collin Kessigner in 1:05.92. Michigan State’s Kennedy Cutler was third in 1:06.65, followed by her teammate Marina Borri in 1:06.82.
Michigan State built off that win with a first place finish in 200 fly from Elizabeth Brown in 2:04.31. Saoirse Palu-Benson was second for Buffalo in 2:06.91, and Pugh was third for the Spartans with a 2:07.37.
The 50 free was a was a nail biter between teammates from Buffalo. Megan Burns beat out Steffl 23.91 to 23.92 from Steffl. Army took third and fourth from Molly Mucciarone and Rachel Kim in 24.01 and 24.21, respectively. Sarah Love was fifth for the Spartans in 24.35.
Army responded with a one two finish in the 200 IM. Jessica Burkett was 2:08.30 for the win, and Kessinger was second in 2:08.92. Cutler was third for the Spartans in 2:10.16. Elizabeth Brown was fourth for the Spartan’s in 2:10.63, followed by another Spartan, Mia Baric, in fifth with a 2:10.69.
Buffalo won the 800 free relay with a 7:42.67 behind Rodriguez, Paula Stoddard, Hannah Miller, and Jessica Powers. Army’s A relay was second with a 7:43.81. The Army B relay was third in 7:48.11. The Spartan’s A relay was fourth in 7:48.42.
Madeline Sewell won the three meter diving for Michigan State with a score of 313.95.
Full results are available here.
Competition resumes tomorrow at 12 p.m. ET