OXFORD, Ohio - March 15, 2008 - Senior Roy Burch recorded a fourth place finish in the 50 freestyle on the opening day of the NCAA Division III Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the University of Miami’s (Ohio) Corwin M. Nixon Aquatic Center.
After the first day of competition, Springfield is in eighth place with 46 overall points.
Burch, who was named an All-American after his fourth-place mark in the 50 freestyle. Burch was fifth after the prelims on Thursday morning when he touched the wall in 20.26, a new Springfield College record. In the finals, Burch finished in 20.34 en route to finishing fourth.
The freestyle relay team of Burch, Greg Pearsall, Andrew Blakesley, and Matt Manoni was also tabbed All-American after it finished seventh in the finals. The squad touched in a time of 1:22.89 en route to finishing seventh.
On the one-meter diving board, senior Ben Casavant advanced to the finals after finishing 12th in the prelims with a score of 147.85. In the finals, Casavant continued the Pride's All-American selections as he placed 10th in the country with a score of 414.40.
John Taffe enters his 24th season in 2012-2013 as the head coach of the men's and women's swimming teams at Springfield College. Under Taffe’s leadership, the Pride has returned to its status as one of the best collegiate swimming and diving programs in Division III. Read more.
Peter Avdoulos is regarded as one of the top diving coaches in the nation, and will enter his 28th season as the diving coach for both the men's and women's programs in 2012-2013. The current NEWMAC Men's Diving Coach of the Year, Avdoulos has coached countless All-New England and All-American divers, as well as several National Champions. Read more.