POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 21, 2017) – The Vassar College men's swimming and diving team swam very well, posting six personal bests while winning six events, but Brandeis University's depth won out as the Brewers dropped their 2017-18 season opener 175-106 in action from Kresge Pool Saturday.
 
Despite the score, the Brewers had strong showings throughout the afternoon, starting in the 200-yard medley relay to open the meet. Vassar earned the victory with a time of 1:38.94, as freshman Max White teamed with Harrison Taylor, Matthew Imiolek and Jonah Strand for the win.
 
It wasn't the last time that White and Strand would finish first on the afternoon, as Strand chalked up the victory in three events while White earned to individual triumphs. White picked up his first collegiate win in the 100-yard backstroke, as he swam a 54.57 for the victory. He later chalked up a win in the 100-yard butterfly, swimming a 53.36 to top the field.
 
Strand was in command of all three of his swims on the afternoon, as he earned his first victory in the 100 breaststroke with a comfortable 1:00.34 time. He later cruised to another win in the 200 breaststroke, clocking in with a 2:13.26. His last swim was another top-place finish, as Strand captured the 200 individual medley with a 2:02.22.
 
One of the most exciting swims for the Brewers came in the 50 freestyle, as Imiolek blasted his previous personal best to win the event with a time of 22.43. Upon the victory, Imiolek celebrated with a slap of the water as he topped his seed time by nearly 0.80 seconds.
 
In the 1000 freestyle, sophomore Jordan Kalina was second with a strong early-season swim of 10:40.21. He later took second in the 500 freestyle as well, accumulating four more points with a time of 5:11.33. The 200 freestyle saw Parker Bartz finish fourth overall with a time of 2:01.06, over 14 seconds better than his seed time, while Finn Belanger also swam faster than his seeded time coming in, clocking in with a 2:01.38.
 
Freshman Rowan McDowell bested his seed time in the 100 backstroke with a 1:00.85, finishing fifth, while Danny Dunn swam a 1:12.70 for a personal best in the 100 breaststroke. Sophomore captain Harrison Taylor was third in the 200 butterfly after clocking in with a 2:12.19, taking second in the 100 freestyle after swimming a 52.26.
 
Bartz and Davon Dowie each bested their seed times as well in the 100 free with times of 54.14 and 1:00.42, respectively, and McDowell swam a 2:13.90 for fourth place in the 200 backstroke. Imiolek, along with his win in the 50 free, was third in the 200 breast with a time of 2:25.57, adding a fourth-place finish in the 200 IM with a 2:11.69. In diving, Connor Martin took second place in the 1-meter diving event with a score of 146.25, and junior Marvin Corleto was third with a 109.30.
 
Vassar will be back in the water on Wednesday at 6 p.m. against the Raptors of Bard College in Kresge Pool.