Benzing Sets New CAA Record As Towson Expands Lead At CAA Men's Swimming & Diving Championship
Rob Washburn
CHAMP CENTRAL RESULTS HIGHLIGHTS
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (April 2, 2021) – Freshman Brian Benzing of Towson twice set a new conference record in the 100-yard breaststroke to highlight the second day of competition at the 2021 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Men’s Swimming & Diving Championship at the Christiansburg Athletic Center in Christiansburg, Virginia on Friday night.
Benzing, a freshman from Ellicott City, Maryland, swam a CAA Meet and All-Time record 52.64 in the morning prelims. That set a new CAA standard, bettering the old mark of 53.02 set by Arni Arnason of ODU on Feb. 24, 2012. Then in the evening’s finals, he swam 52.57 to break the record he had set about eight hours earlier.
Towson expanded its lead in the team standings with 601.5 points. UNCW is second with 479 points, followed by Delaware (340), Drexel (337) and William & Mary (328.5).
200-Yard Medley Relay
UNCW took the first relay of the night with a time of 1:26.65 in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of Will Goldey, Gianmichel D’Alessandro, Henderson Louviere and E’Likai Crompton-English swam 1:26.65 for the victory, Towson was second at 1:27.19 and Drexel was third at 1:27.97.
400-Yard Individual Medley
Henderson Louviere of UNCW, who earned gold in the 200 IM on Thursday night, followed by capturing the 400-yard IM with a dominating time of 3:53.31. Patrick Flint of Towson was second at 3:58.33 and Ryan Bookstein of Towson was third at 3:59.86. It was the first victory by a UNCW swimmer in the event since 1999.
100-Yard Butterfly
Paris Raptis of Drexel defeated a pair of Towson swimmers to claim the 100-yard butterfly. Raptis posted a time of 47.10. outpacing Cody Stewart (47.73) and Nick McClure (48.15). Raptis is the first Drexel swimmer to ever take gold in the event at the CAA Championship.
200-Yard Freestyle
Ryan Baldino of Towson won the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:37.07, becoming the first Tiger to take the event since 2015. Towson teammate Michael Fazio was second at 1:38.13 and Bryce Ciecko of Delaware was third at 1:39.21.
100-Yard Breaststroke
Benzing of Towson set a new CAA record in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 52.57, breaking a mark he set in the morning prelims. He defeated Josh Rigsbee of UNCW (53.31) and Gianmichel D’Alessandro of UNCW (53.34).
100-Yard Backstroke
Will Goldey of UNCW won the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 48.25. Jake Kealy of William & Mary finished second at 48.47 and Evan Bota of Towson was third with a time of 48.73. Goldey also won on Friday as part of the 200 Medley Relay winning UNCW team.
800-Yard Freestyle Relay
The final event of the night saw the Towson team of Benzing, Fazio, Luke Schwar and Baldino win the 800-yard freestyle relay with a time of 6:36.12. UNCW was second at 6:43.04 and William & Mary was third at 6:44.88.
TEAM STANDINGS THROUGH DAY TWO
1) Towson ( 601.50)
2) UNCW (479)
3) Delaware (340)
4) Drexel (337)
5) William & Mary (328.50)