The SIU men’s swimming and diving team traveled to Ypsilanti, Mich., for the Mid-American Conference Championships and is in fourth place after Day One.

In the second event, the 800-yard freestyle relay, the team of senior Till Pallmann, junior Andre Brilhante, sophomores Michael Wolfe and Trevor Jones set a new SIU record by .1 second, and came in third place.

“We are off to as good of a start as we have had,” coach Rick Walker said. “Tomorrow is a big day, and we have to be prepared for morning swims.”

The Wednesday effort broke the record set by last year’s squad while it was competing in the MAC Championships.

Swimming in the 200-yard medley relay, the first event of the day, was sophomore Joao Facciotti, senior Andreas Saavedra Sanchez, juniors Bobby Wood and Lucas Aquino.

The team finished in fourth place in the event and contributed 30 points to the team score.

SIU finished the day six points behind the third-place team of Missouri State and 10 points behind the home school of Eastern Michigan, which is in first place. 

Day Two is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, starting with the 500-yard freestyle swim. 

Evan Jones can be reached at [email protected] or at (618)536-3304