Feb. 18, 2006

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - After two days of competition, the New Jersey Institute of Technology men's swimming team ranked 11th in the team standings at the Metropolitan Swimming Conference championship meet.

In preliminary action Friday evening and Saturday morning, the Highlander men set school records in the 200-yard freestyle relay, the 400-yard medley relay and the 200-yard medley relay.

Individually, Hayk Ekshian set two school records and qualified for the upcoming ECAC championship meet in two events--the 100-yard butterfly and the 50-yard freestyle. He qualified for the championship finals in the 100-yard butterfly and is the first NJIT male in recent memory to claim a spot in the finals.

Marc Ubaldi set a new standard in the 200-yard individual relay, Rob Franc set the record in the 100-yard breaststroke.

In Saturday night's 100-yard butterfly championship, Ekshian topped himself, literally. His time in the morning qualifying race was 53.70, a school record, and he erased that in the final, with a 53.50, which was good for eighth in the race.

The team of Dan Botero, Franc, Ekshian and Ubaldi set a school 200-yard medley relay record, with a time of 1:43.20.

The championship meet continues Sunday in the final day of competition.