Senior Chris Arsenault and the rest of the Massachusetts men’s swimming and diving team went into winter break on a two-meet winning streak and returned just as hot.
Despite a span of 35 days between meets that could have led to some rustiness, the Minutemen were able to compile a 4-2 record over midsession to improve to 9-4 overall.
In their first meet since a 139-104 victory over UConn back on Dec. 9, the Maroon and White took first place at the Rhode Island Invitational in Kingston behind a strong showing in the four relay events. UMass was able to tally 377 points, more than 100 better than its nearest competitor, Dartmouth. The Big Green scored 263 while LaSalle finished in third with 223. Host Rhode Island pulled up the rear with a score of 219.
The Minutemen won three of the four relay events and got a pair of victories from Arsenault in the 100-meter freestyle and the 200-meter Individual Medley en route to the victory.
The Minutemen picked up their first relay victory in the 400-meter medley. Sophomores Chad Arnold and Justin Houck teamed with Arsenault and fellow senior Mike Sabina to take the event with a winning time of 3:31.69. This victory was followed up with a similar one in the 200 freestyle relay.
Once again, Arsenault, Sabina and Arnold starred along with sophomore Ryan Zaucha. The four combined for a time of 1:26.99, the fourth best time for the Minutemen this season. Finally, in the 200-meter medley relay, the foursome of senior Joe Martin, Sabina, Arsenault and Zaucha took home first place with a time of 1:37.70.
The Minutemen were just as impressive in individual events with Arsenault once again fronting the charge. He took first in the 200-meter Individual Medley with a time of 1:55.57 and then won the 100-meter freestyle in 46.75. Arsenault’s time in the 100-meter free was not his best time of the season, but is still better than anybody else’s time on the team.
Other individual winners for the Minutemen were Sabina in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:01.04), Houck in the 100-meter backstroke (54.70), Zaucha in the 200 backstroke (1:59.16) and freshman Peter Tawczynski in the 200 breaststroke (2.13.29.)
Tawczynski’s victory, along with a second place performance in the 400-meter IM over the weekend in Rhode Island earned him the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week Award. It was the first time the freshman from Holden, MA picked up the award this season.
One week after the victory in Rhode Island, the Minutemen were back on the road, this time traveling to Baltimore, MD for a tri-meet with George Washington and Maryland-Baltimore County. However, there would be no repeat first place performance this time, as the Minutemen crushed GW 204-90, but fell 162.5-135.5 to UMBC.
Sophomore Tommy Keane placed first in the 500-meter freestyle with a time of 4:44.74 and was named the A-10 Performer of the Week. Keane’s time of 4:44.74 was good enough for the fifth best time in the conference this season. He currently holds the conference’s fastest times in both the 500- and 1000-meter freestyle events.
Also taking first place for the Minutemen were Maryland native Logan Alomar in the three-meter diving competition and Arsenault in the 100-meter freestyle. Alomar chalked up a score of 263.45 to take his event while Arsenault won his with a time of 46.83 seconds. Arsenault also placed second on the day in both the 200-meter freestyle and the 100-meter butterfly.
UMass’ lone relay triumph came in the 200-meter freestyle relay. Arsenault combined with Chad Arnold, Mike Sabina and junior Ryan Fisher for a time of 1:25.74.
The loss to UMBC set the Minutemen out for revenge as they returned home for the first time since Dec. 2 to take on Rutgers. For added incentive, it was Senior Day at the Joseph R. Rogers Jr. Pool and the four Maroon and White seniors; Billy Brown, Arsenault, Sabina and Martin were looking for one last home victory.
However, it was not to be, as UMass fell to the Scarlet Knights 160-122, dropping their record to 9-4. Despite the loss, the Minutemen maintained their grip on first place in the A-10.
Arsenault once again led the way for UMass in his final home meet. He won both the 100-meter freestyle and the 100-meter butterfly. His times of 46.25 and 49.56, respectively, were good enough to earn him the A-10 Performer of the Week award. This was the third time that he has won the award this season.
The only other winners for the Minutemen were Brown and Keane. Brown took first in the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:07.90 and also placed second in the 100 breaststroke. Keane followed up his Performer of the Week performance in Baltimore with a victory in the 200-meter freestyle (1:44.83) and second in the 500 freestyle.
Ryan Fisher and Justin Houck also had very impressive second place finishes. Fisher produced the sixth best time in UMass history in the 50-meter freestyle (20.96) while Houck clocked in with a time of 52.68 in the 200-meter backstroke, good enough for the second fastest time on the Minutemen this season.
The Minutemen return to action on Saturday when they travel to the Bronx, NY, to take on A-10 rival Fordham.
