BY Ithaca College Athletics

The Bombers placed second at the Don Richards Invitational hosted by Rochester Institute of Technology over the weekend with a total of 854 points. Freshmen Miroslav Macala (Matyas Lerch/Brno, Czech Republic) and Joe Gage (Edwin Oscar Smith/Storrs, Conn.) led the Bombers Saturday and Sunday, each contributing a second-place performance. Macala’s came in the 100-yard breaststroke event (1:03:04) while Gage finished second in the 500-yard freestyle event (5:03:17).

Macala and Gage also swam in the 400-yard medley relay, which also placed second. Junior Mike Ariel (Xaverian Brothers/Norwood, Mass.), sophomore Matt Carolan (Northampton Area, Walnutport, Pa.) and freshman Tony Clark (Ridgewood/ Ridgewood N.J.) all added third-place finishes in the effort as well.

In Saturday morning's action, Ariel had a strong performance in the 200-yard backstroke, placing third (2:04.54). Clark placed seventh in the event (2:08.57). Carolan was the Bombers' top performer in the 200-yard butterfly, finishing third with a time

of 2:04.62. Junior Brennan Hagy (LaSalle/Wyndmoor, Pa.) finished fifth (2:07.93). Macala turned in a second-place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:18.29). Senior Casey Degon (Franklin Academy/Malone) placed fifth in the event with a time of 2:28.45. Friday's competition saw the Bombers take four of the top seven spots in the 1,650-yard freestyle. Gage led the way, finishing second with a time of 17:09.26. Senior captain Scott Wilson (Springville-Griffith Institute/Springville) placed fourth (17:45.40), while Carolan finished fifth (17:47.82) and Ariel was seventh (18:13.10).

Ithaca's top diver was sophomore Andrew Longcore (Red Hook/Red Hook), who scored 280.25 points to earn sixth place in the 1-meter diving event.

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