November 9, 2005

NEWARK, NJ - The New Jersey Institute of Technology men's swimming team won both ends of its first home tri-match Wednesday night, defeating Drew, 67-25, and Ocean County College, 59-36.

Two NJIT swimmers set new school records, with Marc Ubaldi posting a new standard in the 200-yard freestyle (1:55.02) and Hayk Ekshian breaking his own mark in the 100-yard butterfly (57.13). Ubaldi's new record comes two days after he set a new record in the 100-yard freestyle (50.93) and Ekshian's new butterfly record had stood for 48 hours after he broke the old record with a 58.05 against College of Staten Island.

Both Ubaldi and Ekshian claimed first place in their school-record races on Wednesday.

The Highlanders opened Wednesday's competition with a first in the 200-yard medley relay as the team of Michael Finley, Ed Lui, Ekshian and Brad Weidman combined for a time of 1:49.97.

Andrew Coslow got a first vs. Drew (second vs. Ocean) in the 1,000-yard freestyle at 12:00.67. Ubaldi followed with a first for his school-record swim in the 200 free.

Steve Schreyer was first against Drew (second against Ocean) with 23.96 in the 50-yard freestyle and Rob Franc was first overall in the 200 individual medley (2:20.47).

Ekshian's school-record 100 fly was good for another first and Ubaldi took top honors with a 1:02.49 in the 100-yard backstroke.

Mike Lawson was first vs. Ocean (second against Drew) with a 1:09.61 in the 100 breast, before the Highlander 200-yard freestyle relay team capped the evening with another first-place finish. The winning group was Ekshian, Lui, Franc and Ubaldi.

Only the matchup vs. Drew counts in NJIT's won-loss record, since Ocean is a two-year college, leaving the Highlanders' official won-loss record at 2-1.

The Highlanders will swim at Pace on Sunday at 3 pm.