By Jim Fenton

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Members of the Bridgewater State University swimming & diving teams competed on Friday during day one of the ECAC Open Championships held at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Men's Swimming & Diving

The Bridgewater State University men's swimming & diving team opened the ECAC Open on Friday night and is in 16th place with two days of competition remaining.

The Bears' 400-meter medley relay team was 13th while the 200 freestyle team placed 14th.

The ECACs include a number of Division I teams, including the host U.S. Naval Academy. The Bears are at the ECACs for the first time since 2016.

BSU's 400 medley relay team consisted of junior Cooper Sever (Edgewater, Md.), junior Desmond Ng (Petaling Jaya, Malaysia), sophomore Jirat Saengthong (Watertown, Mass.) and junior Richard Palanza (Mansfield, Mass.).

They had a time of 3:27.22 in a race that was won by the U.S. Military Academy.

The Bears' 200 freestyle relay team of Saengthong, junior Ryan McKenzie (Charlton, Mass.), Palanza and senior Thomas Roch (Chelmsford, Mass.) finished in 1:28.19.

That race was won by the U.S. Naval Academy.

The second day of the competition begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday and concludes on Sunday.

The meet is being held at Lejeune Hall, on the campus of the Naval Academy.

Women's Swimming & Diving

The Bridgewater State University women's swimming & diving team took part in its first postseason relay race ever on Friday.

The Bears finished ninth in the 400-meter medley relay at the ECAC Open held at the U.S. Naval Academy.

BSU's team included junior Julie Remson (Norwalk, Conn.), senior Summer Martin (Norton, Mass.), junior Ava Fenton (Monument Beach, Mass.) and senior Jenna Fiebiger (Johannesburg, South Africa).

The Bears completed the race in 4:14.57 with the U.S. Naval Academy finishing first.

BSU has 10 points and is in 15th place after the opening day.

The three-day meet continues starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.