Bantams Open with a Big Slpash

Audrey Butler wins the 100 breast.

The Bantams began the season on the men's side with a meet against the University of Rhode Island, while the women squared off against Mount Holyoke. Both teams had some incredible swims with just two weeks of training under their belts.

Junior Max Ma and first-year Nick Celestin led the way for the men's team. Ma and Celestin each won three individual events to lead the Trinity College Bantams to a season-opening 131-66 victory over the University of Rhode Island Ram Club.

Ma won the 100 IM with a time of 56.07, a personal best time, and the second fastest time in Trinity history. He went on to win the 100 freestyle in 50.49, also a personal best, and he finished the meet off by taking first in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:02.90. In Celestin's debut meet for the Bantam's he took first place in the 200 freestyle with a personal best time of 1:49.39. He also won the 100 butterfly with a time of 53.09. Celestin continued his winning ways by taking the 100 backstroke with a time of 55.52.  Bantam junior co-captain Mark Yanagisawa won both the 1,000 freestyle in 11:01.05 and the 500 freestyle at 5:21.24. The men's team dominated as they won every single individual event.

On the women's side the Bantam's kept it close to the finish, but the visiting Mount Holyoke College Lyons edged Trinity, 120-114. Trinity senior Shelby Friel won the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:02.75 and teamed with senior co-captain Carleigh Haron and rookies Katie Barlok and Jess Rudman to win the 400 freestyle relay at 3:48.64.  Bantam senior Emily Jensen won the 100 free at 56.85 and sophomore Audrey Butler took first in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:11.94.  Junior diver Emily Johnson won both the 1-Meter 206.34 and 3-meter 186.37 events for Trinity.

Both teams will return to action this Sunday as they square off against NESCAC foe, Bates University.