PITTSBURGH – The Case Western Reserve University men's swimming & diving team opened the 2013-14 season with a 178-108 loss to University Athletic Association rival, Carnegie Mellon University, Saturday afternoon at CMU Pool.
Senior Daniel Jacobson (Solon, Ohio/Solon) highlighted the day with wins in both diving events and NCAA "B" cut point totals of 300.76 (1-meter) and 303.60 (3-meter).
In the fourth event of the afternoon, the 1,000-yard freestyle, Case took three of the top four positions and was led by sophomore Aaron Tam (Doral, Fla./Ronald Reagan Doral Senior) whose time of 9:50.68 was best among all swimmers. Freshmen David Merriman (Clive, Iowa/Valley) and Andrew Henning (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) finished third and fourth with times of 10:15.66 and 10:16.49, respectively.
Tam was also the winner in the 500 free with a mark of 4:46.40.
In addition, senior co-captain Sean Nickley (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) bested a trio of Tartan swimmers with a time of 59.63 in the 100 backstroke, while junior Eric Haufler (Westminster, Md./Francis Scott Key) was the top finisher in the 100 freestyle with a time of 47.67.
The team's final victory of the day came in the 200 free relay as senior co-captain Heath Hudgins (Chapel Hill, N.C./East Chapel Hill), senior Nick Clyde (Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron), Haufler and senior Gus Bailey (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) finished in a time of 1:27.99.
The Spartans return to action next Saturday, November 2 with the opening meets of the Cleveland City Tournament at Veale Natatorium. Action is set to begin at 1 p.m. with Case taking on John Carroll University and Notre Dame College (Ohio).
