December 4, 2005

Bloomsburg Men's Swim Team Finishes Fourth at Franklin & Marshall Invitational


Full Meet Results
Final Team Scores

BLOOMSBURG- The Bloomsburg University men's swim team placed fourth out of twelve teams at the Franklin and Marshall Invitational this weekend. The Huskies finished with 424.5 points, behind only Washington and Lee University, Rowan University and Gettysburg College.

It was a record setting day for the Huskies as Travis Backenstoe (Walnutport/Northampton) set a new school record in the 50 free(21.15), breaking Stu Marvin's 1978 record of 21.20. Chris Rumfelt (Shamokin/Shamokin) set a new mark in the 200 free (1:41.63)brearking Marvin 1978 record of 1:41.90. In the 800 Free Relay (7:05.31) of Rumfelt, Steve Withers, Steve Post, and Backenstoe broke a 2001 record of 7:05.32.

The Huskies relay teams performed strong, finishing in second place in four of the five relays at the Invitational and coming in fourth in the other. Chris Rumfelt (Shamokin/Shamokin), Mark Freeman (Bethlehem/Perkiomen Valley), Bret Palmer (Marysville/Susquenita), and Travis Backenstoe (Walnutport/Northampton) swam the 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:26.72, second to only Washington and Lee University. In the 400 Medly, Josh Chandler (Mount Joy/Donegall), Jason Chrisanthon (Springfield/Springfield), Rumfelt and Backenstoe combined for a time of 3:35.69, just over a second behind Rowan University.

The team of Rumfelt, Steve Withers (Chalfont/Chalfont), Backenstoe and Steve Post (Scranton/Scranton) combined for second place finishes in both the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:05.31) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:10.22).

Individually, Backenstoe and Rumfelt led the Huskies. Backenstoe swam to a first place finish in the 50 free with a time of 21.15 while Rumfelt placed fifth in the same event in 21.75. In the 100 free, Rumfelt placed second (46.92) and Backenstoe took third (47.66).

Rumfelt also placed second in the 200 free in 1:41.63 and Chrisanthon added a third place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke.

The Huskies are idle until January 4, 2006 when they compete in the Port Orange Invitational.