It was back-and-forth until the final event, but the Bristol Co-op boys swimming and diving team was able to claim a 96-89 win over Avon on Wednesday afternoon in the home opener at the Dennis Malone Aquatic Center.
The co-op led by a point, 86-85, entering the 400 freestyle relay, but finished first and third to put the win away. The first place relay, made up of Mikel Palaj, Aidan Collins, Davis Kroll and Nathan Stellmach, finished the race in 3:33.56. The third place relay, comprised of Miles Jennings, Thomas Masotti, Ryleigh Dionne and Noah Taylor, finished in 3:54.63. Bristol won the 400 freestyle relay by a score of 10-4.
Bristol’s individual first place finishes came from Palaj (100 freestyle, 1:58.88; 500 freestyle, 4:51.42); Stellmach (50 freestyle, 23.36; 100 breaststroke, 1:01.63); and Kroll (100 butterfly, 1:00.31; 100 backstroke, 59.03). The co-op also won the 200 medley relay in 1:43.23 behind the team of Kroll, Stellmach, Palaj and Collins.
Bristol picked up second place finishes from Collins (50 freestyle); Masotti (100 butterfly); Taylor (100 freestyle); and the 200 freestyle relay of Jennings, Tyler Wilson, Jacob Wilson and Masotti.
Third place finishes were obtained by Masotti (200 freestyle); Collins (500 freestyle); the 200 freestyle relay (Luke Losacano, Julian Alvia, Konrad Truszkowski, Cristian Cortina); and the 400 freestyle relay (Jennings, Masotti, Dionne, Taylor).
Bristol’s fourth place finishes came from Jennings (200 freestyle); Dionne (200 IM, 100 freestyle); Taylor (50 freestyle); Tyler Wilson (diving); Krzystof Popielarz (100 backstroke); and Jacob Wilson (100 breaststroke).
Fifth place finishes were picked up by Losacano (200 freestyle); Popielarz (200 IM); Jennings (100 butterfly); and Tyler Wilson (100 freestyle).
The scoring margin of the meet was mostly three points or less and included a 23-23 tie following the 200 IM. Bristol held the largest lead at eight points, 35-27, following the 50 freestyle. Avon quickly erased that advantage with a 13-2 win in one-meter diving. The Falcons held a 40-37 lead after diving. Bristol won the 100 butterfly, 11-5, and kept the lead for the rest of the meet, though Avon was within a point after four different events.
Photo caption: The scoreboard at the Dennis Malone Aquatic Center said it all Wednesday. (Bristol Co-op Twitter account)
