BUFFALO, N.Y. - Junior Dan Evans (Hamburg) eclipsed a 15-year-old school record in the 50-yard freestyle and was also part of two Cortland relays that broke school records during the first day of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Men's Swimming and Diving Championships.

Evans won the 50-yard freestyle league title in 20.89 seconds, an NCAA provisional "B cut" time. He broke the previous school record of 20.92 seconds set by Ryan Kendrick in 1994.

The combination of Evans, senior Drew Hilker (Ithaca), sophomore Matt Young (Richmondville/Schoharie) and sophomore James McCabe (North Massapequa/Farmingdale) won the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:23.57, also an NCAA "B cut". The prior school mark of 1:24.96 was set by Brian Williams, Kendrick, current head coach Brian Tobin and Matt Mitchell in 1992.

Evans finished the night by anchoring the Red Dragons' 400-yard medley relay team that also included freshman Dan Drew (Victor), senior Brett Poffenbarger (Owego/Owego Free Academy) and Hilker. The relay finished second in 3:29.64, bettering the old school record of 3:31.17 set by Jim Pioli, Brett Humphreys, Andy Chevalier and Hilker in 2006.

The Red Dragons earned five other top-eight finishes during the first day of competition. Hilker placed fourth (21.44) and Young was seventh (21.67, 21.55 in prelims) in the 50-yard freestyle. Junior Caleb VanSickle (Stanley/Marcus Whitman) touched the wall fifth in the 500-yard freestyle (4:47.73) and junior Jeff Moessinger (Buffalo/Iroquois) finishing seventh (4:49.13, 4:48.82 in prelims). Sophomore Mihali Tzetzis (Syracuse/Jamesville-DeWitt) turned in an eighth-place finish in one-meter diving (375.25 points).

In addition, senior Dave Dow (Port St. Lucie, FL/Glastonbury (CT)) won the consolation heat in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:48.14.

Cortland is in second place after the first day with 178 points. Geneseo leads with 293 points. The competition continues Friday and Saturday at the Flickinger Center on the campus of Erie Community College.


SUNYAC MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
STANDINGS AFTER DAY 1 (Feb. 12, 2009)

1) Geneseo – 293
2) Cortland – 178
3) New Paltz - 141
4) Fredonia - 135
5) Oswego - 93
6) Oneonta - 74
7) Brockport - 70
8) Potsdam - 57
9) Buffalo St. - 51