PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Two records were set on day one at the Metropolitan Championships, and in day two the William Paterson men's swimming and diving program followed up with two more of their own as the Pioneers finished ninth of 16 teams and seventh of 14 Division III opponents, Feb. 17.
 
Senior Anthony Taboadela (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) swam the opening 50 back of the 200 medley relay prelims in 25.35, breaking his previously held record (25.36) by the slimmest of margins.
 
The Rockaway, N.J. native was a part of the second record-breaking time of the day just a few events later, joining junior Drew Macchia (Chatham, N.J./Chatham), classmate Sammuel Melendez (West Haverstraw, N.Y./North Rockland) and sophomore Eamon Logue (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Twp.) in the 800 free relay (7:12.49). Dan Dickman, Chris Dean, Russ Banok and Mike Rosenthal were the standing record holders of the 800 free relay (7:15.59), setting 16 seasons ago in the 1991-92 campaign.
 
All told, the Pioneers garnered 230 points and had appearances in five out of eight event finals. Taboadela, Melendez, Macchia and Logue also gathered to win the 200 medley relay B Final (1:40.04), while finishing eighth of 14 teams in the record-breaking 800 free relay effort.
 
Taboadela's busy day continued when he garnered 14 individual points with a fifth place time in the 400 IM B Final (4:13.71). Two season-best marks were set in the C Final of the same event, with Melendez registering seventh place (4:31.30) and sophomore Jimmy Sharkey (Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West) an eighth place time (4:42.26).
 
Junior William Barrett (Pompton Lakes, N.J. /Pompton Lakes ) notched an eighth place finish in the one-meter 11 dives, posting a score of 323.55 in the finals.
 
Six more events await the Pioneer men for the third and final day of the Metropolitan Championships Feb. 18. The opening event, the 200 back prelims, is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. back at Rutgers University.
 
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