For Immediate Release: February 15, 2008
Contact: Anthony G. Naglieri (sports@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-2956

Varanda and Dzieniszewski capture individual crowns to highlight second day at America East Swim Championships

Day Two Results
Championship Schedule

ORONO, ME -- Junior Brenno Varanda (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and sophomore Philip Dzieniszewski (Bayside, N.Y.) each captured individual titles highlighting the second day of competition at the 2008 America East Conference Championships at the University of Maine's Wallace Pool.

"It was a pretty good day for both the men and women," head coach Sean Clark said. "The diving was again really beneficial for us with two women finalists. We are looking forward to having some more fast swims over the next couple days."

Varanda captured the 200-IM title in a pool record time of 1:51.40. Varanda had claimed the silver medal behind one of his Bearcat teammates in the 200-IM at each of the last two championships.

Former BU standouts and 2007 graduates David Holmes and Brian Koizim won the event in 2005-06 and 2006-07, respectively. Freshman Jason Chen (Livingston, N.J.) was also a finalist in the 200-IM for the Bearcats. Chen finished eighth in the 200-IM in a time of 1:55.07.

Dzieniszewski successfully defended his conference title in the 50-free, touching first in a time of 21.02.

In the 500-free, the Bearcats had four consolation finalists, led by junior Peter Rodrick's (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.) 10th place finish.

The men sit in third place in the five-team field and have a total of 222 points, just 21 points behind second-place Boston University (243).

On the women's side, sophomore swimmer Allyce Brand (Highland Park, Ill.) was a finalist in the 50-free. Brand clocked in at 25.02 to claim eighth place.

"Allyce had a really nice swim to get into finals," Clark said. "She didn't swim that event last year, she swam the 200-IM, so she really showed her versatility."

In the one-meter dive, junior Kate Hassfurter (Horseheads, N.Y.) finished in fourth place with 216.35 points. Classmate Kristin Maney (New Paltz, N.Y.) placed seventh with 188.20 points.

The Boston University women remain in first following the completion of day two with 304 points followed by UMBC (274), New Hampshire (250), Vermont (186), and Maine (156). The Bearcats sit in the sixth spot, just three points behind the host Black Bears with 153 and 59 points ahead of Stony Brook (94).

The four-day America East Championships continue Saturday with the men’s and women’s 100-fly, 400-IM, 200-free, 100-breast, 100-back and the men’s 3-meter diving. The morning preliminary session begins at 10 a.m., while finals begin at 6 p.m.

Women's Team Rankings
1. Boston University	304
2. UMBC	274
3. New Hampshire	250
4. Vermont	186
5. Maine	156
6. Binghamton	153
7. Stony Brook	94
Men's Team Rankings
1. UMBC	327
2. Boston University	243
3. Binghamton	222
4. Stony Brook	206
5. Maine	104