WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT. 2/10/13 – Keene State College men's and women's teams captured the swimming portion of the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association championship with a third day of impressive performances at the meet held at the Upper Valley Aquatics Center in White River Junction, VT on Sunday.

The diving events of the championship will take place next weekend at Plymouth State University.

After 46 swim events, the Keene State men hold a substantial 1,003.5-693 lead over Roger Williams University. In the women's competition, the Owls lead Eastern Conn. 1,593-1,113.5. If Keen State holds on to their lead following the diving events, it will be the fifth NEISDA title for the KSC women and the fourth crown for the Owl men. It will also be the first time since 2010 that the Owls have won both men's and women's championships.

"It was a total team victory," said KSC Coach Jack Fabian, who was named the NEISDA coach of the year. "We put out the challenge for everyone to finish in the top-eight and reach the finals and just about every came through with amazing swims."

The Owls dominated the competition, winning a combined 34 races, setting three meet record, eight school records, posting three NCAA 'A' cut and 10 NCAA 'B' cut qualifying times at the three-day championship.

Junior Drew Ledwith (Keene N.H.) had a sensational weekend. Individually, he posted NCAA 'A' cut qualifying times while setting meet and school records in the 500 free (4:27.29) and the 1,650 free (15:19.79). On Sunday, Ledwith shattered his own meet record in the 1,650 by almost 11 seconds. He also joined junior Jared Hyde (Tolland, Conn.), and freshmen Cole Hogg (Manchester, N.H.) and Shahar Resman (Ashdod, Israel) to record a NCAA A cut qualifying time, meet and school record in the 800 free relay (6:40.59).

Ledwith said it was an unreal experience. "This team and program climbed to an amazing level this weekend. Everyone stepped up," he said.

"We knew going in that we'd be racing against the clock in many of the races and we were able to find away to pull it off," Ledwith added. " I've never been more excited than after we got an A cut in the 800 free relay. We've never done that before."

"I've never seen Drew swim with so much confidence. He's gone to another level and just is getting better and better," said Fabian.

Recently joining the team, freshman Shahar Resman (Ashdod, Israel) finished second in the 1650 with a NCAA B cut qualifying times of 15:45.03 while freshman Matthew Ahlberg (Glastonbury, Conn.) placed third (16;46.24).

Also in Sunday's finals day of competition, the Keene State men's team swept the top four spots in the 100 free; Junior Jared Hyde (Tolland, Conn.) and freshman Greg Youngstrom (West Hartford, Conn.) each posted NCAA B cut qualifying times with their first (45.97) and second place (46.00) finishes. Senior Austin Harris (Essex Junction, Vt.) was third (46.53) and junior James Black (Lynn, Mass.) was fourth (46.83).

KSC had the top three finishers in the 200 fly; Freshman Cole Hogg (Manchester, N.H.) won the race with a NCAA B cut qualifying time of 1:52.74. Junior Dan Oliveria (Ludlow, Mass.) was second (1:56.44) and freshman Zachary Tyropolis (Waterford, Conn.) was third (1:57.55).

Junior Tyler Tambascio (Greenwich, Conn.) and Randy Dunton (St. Cloud, Fla.) also won races. Tambascio took first in the 200 breast (2:09.98) and Dunton touched the wall first in the 100 IM (53.27).
In other races, junior James Norris (Ansonia, Conn.) took third in the 50 back (26.06).

The KSC wrapped up the meet by winning the 400 free relay with the team of Youngstrom, Black, Harris and Hyde placing first with a meet record and NCAA B cut qualifying times of 3:02.88.
In the final day of competition for the women, sophomore Julie Trodden (Reading, Mass.), who was named the female swimmer of the meet, finished first in the 1,650 free with a NCAA B cut qualifying times of 17:33.87. Freshman Rebecca Stewart (East Lyme, Conn.) was second (18:16.89.

Sophomore Diana Pimer (West Haven, Conn.) also recorded a NCAA B cut qualifying time (2:24.38) with her first place performance in the 200 breast.

Keene State freshman Alison Bartlett (Stratham, N.H.) won the 100 free with a time of 53.19. Junior Alexis Houser (New Hope, Pa.) was third (53.89).

In other races, freshman Brianna Laliberte (Candia, N.H.) placed second in the 50 back (28.37), freshman Amber Long (Dover, N.H.) was second in the 200 fly (2:14.85) and sophomore Lindsey Day (Chelmsford, Mass.) placed third in the 100 I.M. (1:02.86).

The Keene State put the finishing touches on meet by winning the 400 free relay. Sophomore Taylor DaSilva (Stony Brook, N.Y.) joined Murray, Houser and Bartlett to win the race with a time of 3:36.34.

Several Keene State swimmers will head to the Husky Invitational at UConn next Saturday to see if they can improve on their NCAA qualifying times.