WILKES-BARRE, PA (January 11, 2020) -- Freshman Jared Stephan continued his strong freshman campaign with three more individual victories Saturday against Messiah College in action from Scandlon Pool, but the Falcons pushed past the Monarch men's swimming team 146-107 in the first dual meet of the 2020 calendar year. 

Stephan's top swim came in the 1000 freestyle, as he posted a personal best and pool record with a time of 10:01.47, as the time was the second-fastest in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) this season. Stephan also posted a win in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:57.45, while also chalking up a victory in the 200 IM with a time of 2:02.56. Kris Boxter also had a strong day for King's, as he finished with a victory in the 100 breaststroke with a season-best time of 1:02.23. He also won the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:17.90, while chalking up third-place in the 200 IM with a time of 2:16.08. 

In the 200 freestyle, Ryan Bixler posted a third-place time of 1:53.39 while Andrew Johnson's 2:06.69 was a season-best. Sophomore Joel Williams was second in the 100 backstroke with a 1:00.57, and Kevin Clarke finished third int he 100 breaststroke with a personal-best 1:09.95. Freshman Erik Aguero was second in the 200 butterfly with a season-best 2:09.01, and senior Chris Boucher was third in the 200 Fly with a 2:20.50. 

Senior Chris Dionne, who has been sidelined due to injury for the most of the season, returned Saturday to finish second in the 50 free with a 22.99. Freshman Anthony Macko was fourth in the 50 free as well with a personal-best 23.91. Bixler finished third in the 100 freestyle with a 51.79, and Macko was fourth after swimming a 54.65. Sophomore Alex Schwartz was third in the 200 breaststroke with a 2:31.41, and Aguero was third in the 500 freestyle after recording a 5:18.11. 

Dionne led King's in the 100 fly with a 58.27, and Joel Williams posted a 59.63 to finish fourth as well. King's was second in the 200 free relay, as Bixler, Schwartz, Macko and Stephan teammed to register a 1:33.58. 

King's will host Senior Day for its three seniors next Saturday, taking on Lycoming College at 1 p.m. in Scandlon Pool.