NEW YORK, N.Y. ? Columbia bounced back from a Friday loss to Cornell with a convincing 152-88 triumph over Rutgers at Uris Swim Center.
Seven different Lion swimmers won individual races and Columbia swept the top three spots in both the 200-yard butterfly and the 200 breaststroke.
Rutgers had the only double-winners in individual events as Andre Watson led a one-two Scarlet Knights finish in both diving events and Josh Griffey won the 400 individual medley and the 200 back.
“It was good the way we came back after yesterday [a loss to Cornell],” head swim coach Jim Bolster said. The team arrived back in Manhattan at 11:30 p.m. after competing in Ithaca, N.Y.
The Columbia 400 medley relay team of Luke Fitzpatrick, Michael Nelson, Hyun Lee and Tobin White finished first in 3:24.94, as Lee rallied to pass Rutgers' top team and White pulled away in the freestyle leg. The Lions bookended the meet's swim events with a victory in the 200 free relay as well. Lee, Steven Ko, Darren Pagan and White swam 1:23.80 to place first.
Lee and White also had a win in individual events. Lee was first in the 200 free in 1:40.21. White swam 46.23 for the 100 free to take first by 0.7 seconds. John Dragelin (21.78) and Ko (22.00) led a one-two finish in the 50 free.
The Lions also had the top performer in the distance free events. Senior Jake Abbott swam 4:39.30 to edge the Scarlet Knights' top finished by 0.45 seconds. In the 1000 free, Henning Fog took first, and continued on to 1650 in 16:01.59.
First-year Nick Barron was first in the 200 fly in 1:55.15, followed by teammates Cedric Cheung-Lau and Brendan Murphy. Columbia's other sweep came in the 200 breast; sophomore Zach Glassman won in 2:06.73, first-year Eric Tang was second in a lifetime-best time of 2:07.98 and Nelson was third.
Columbia (5-5) hosts its final home meet of the season on Friday, February 2 vs Navy at 4 p.m.