THE BRONX, N.Y. – The William Paterson men's swimming and diving team cruised to a road victory on Jan 21. over Lehman (3-5), 125-72, marking their ninth straight win this season.

TOP PERFORMERS:

• Sophomore Justin Melli (Erma, N.J./Lower Cape May Regional) posted first-place finishes in the 500 free (5:11.91) and 1000 free (11:14.64).
• Senior Shane Apito (Lake Hiawatha, N.J./Parsippany) triumphed in the 200 IM (2:21.02).
• Freshman Mario Pontidis (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex) touched the wall first in the 100 breast (1:10.01).
• WP won the 200 medley relay, with efforts by freshman Derek Gutowski (Succasunna, N.J./Roxburry), sophomore Owen Kane (West Milford, N.J./West Milford), freshman Isaiah Pierre (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg), and senior Ricardo Ordinola (Lodi, N.J./Passaic County Tech), finishing with a time of 1:58.68.
• WP emerged victorious in the 200 freestyle relay, with efforts by Melli, Garrett D'Elia (Maywood, N.J./Hackensack), freshman Liam Wozniak (Fair Lawn, N.J./Fair Lawn) and senior Jason Peralta (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack), finishing with a time of 1:46.81.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Pontidis posted new personal records in the 50 free (22.53) and 100 free (50.67).
• Ordinola clocked in with a new personal best in the 200 free (02:01.93).
• Sophomore Max Russell (Wharton, N.J./Jefferson Twp.) shaved time off his previous 200 IM best (02:33.85).

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson travels to Ramapo College on Tuesday, Jan. 28 for a New Jersey Athletic Conference meet at 6:00 p.m.

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