PISCATAWAY, N.J. – A record swim in the 400 medley relay and an outstanding individual effort in the 50 free highlighted the William Paterson men's swimming and diving team's efforts on the first day of the Metropolitan Championships Feb. 19 at the Rutgers Aquatic Center. The Pioneers were sixth of 12 Division III teams one-third of the way through the competition.

Senior Stefan Rosales (Rahway, N.J./St. Joseph's-Metuchen), senior Kirk Smith (West Orange, N.J./West Orange), sophomore Jeremy Lim (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) and senior Voyta Karas (Brno, Czech Republic) established a new school record with a time of 3:37.32 to win the 400 medley relay B Final and break the previous top mark of 3:37.67 (Christopher Bell, Brian Boardman, Ed Stolarz, Billy Kessel; 1999-2000).

Karas won the 50 free preliminaries with a time of 21.12, good enough to meet the NCAA Championships B standard. In the final, he was barely out-touched at the wall by Miguel Nesrala of Division II Southern Connecticut State by 0.01 second, turning in a time of 20.89 to better his B qualifying time.

Karas, sophomore Brian Birkbeck (Absecon, N.J./Holy Spirit), Smith and freshman Sebastian Schrils (Washington, N.J./Warren Hills Regional) placed seventh in the 200 free relay A Final (1:27.53). Junior Andrew Scimeca (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) was sixth in the one-meter dive (328.65), and sophomore Edward Zappile (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) was sixth (5:07.21) and senior Kevin Thomas (Seaville, N.J./Ocean City) placed eighth (5:15.36) in the 500 free C Final.

The Pioneers will compete in the second day of the Metropolitan Championships Saturday, Feb. 20.