Fowler Breaks 27-Year Old Record as Men's Swimming Downs Clark

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Freshman Aaron Fowler (Brookline, Mass.) broke a 27-year-old school record as the Bridgewater State University men's swimming & diving team cruised to a 165.5-85.5 dual meet victory over visiting Clark University on Saturday afternoon at the Moriarty Pool.

The Bears (1-1) picked up their first dual meet win of the season while the Cougars (0-1) were competing in their first dual meet of the 2024 campaign.

Bridgewater placed first in 13 of the 14 events.

Fowler, who won two individual events and competed on two winning relays, posted a time of 22.79 seconds in the 50 butterfly as he eclipsed the previous BSU standard of 23.12 set by Dave Cangiano back in 1996. Fowler also placed first in the 50 freestyle with a time of 21.29 seconds as he was less than 2/10 of a second off Cangiano's program mark of 21.14 also set in 1996.

Fowler, fellow rookie Jirat Saengthong (Watertown, Mass.) and seniors Cooper Castellone (South Windsor, Conn.) and Joseph Pervier (Baldwinville, Mass.) opened the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay as the foursome posted a time of 1:40.13.

Fowler, Saengthong, Pervier and senior Brennan Gravanda (Wilbraham, Mass.) closed out the meet with a victory in the 400 freestyle relay. The quartet recorded a time of 3:20.57.

Saengthong also captured top honors in both the 200 freestyle (1:49.69) and 100 freestyle (48.53), while Pervier placed first in the 50 backstroke (27.26), Castellone in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.34) and Gravanda in the 100 backstroke (58.32).

Sophomore Cooper Sever (Edgewater, Md.) was also a double event winner for the Bears. Sever was the first to touch the wall in both the 100 butterfly (57.44) and 500 freestyle (5:19.08).

Senior Connor Young (Chelmsford, Mass.) and sophomore Ryan McKenzie (Charlton, Mass.) rounded out the Bears' event winners. Young won the 1,000 freestyle (10:56.28) while McKenzie was the top performer in the 100 individual medley (59.36).

The BSU swimming and diving teams are back in action next Saturday afternoon when the Bears entertain Wheaton College at 2:00 PM.