WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's swimming team opened its 2017-18 season on Saturday afternoon, falling 108-98 to William Paterson University at the CYC.

The Colonels stand at 0-1 currently.

For full results, click here. 

Wilkes started the day with a first-place finish in the 200 medley relay as the team of Jacob Wessner (Auburn, PA/Blue Mountain), Tyler Weatherby (Sewell, NJ/Gloucester County Institutional Technology), Justin Burda (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic), and Jared Byrne (Pequea, PA/Penn Manor) finished in 1:45.19. The team of Chase Osborne (Lords Valley, PA/Wallenpaupack), Mike Pettit (Montrose, PA/Montrose Area Jr/Sr), Nick Martino (Hummelstown, PA/Upper Dauphin), and Anthony Stampone closed the event with a second place finish in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:37.16.

Byrne had a successful first collegiate meet, winning the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:50.63, a new program record. Byrne also set a new record in the 100 freestyle, finishing in 49.86, the first swimmer to finish the event in under 50 seconds.

Burda also set a new school mark in his first meet, finishing second in the 100 butterfly with a time of 55.48 while coming in third in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:43.74.

Pettit finished in the lead in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:41.21 and came in fourth in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:04.50.

Weatherby came in second in the 200 IM at 2:19.59 and third in the 100 breaststroke in 1:09.27.

Martino finished in second in the 100 backstroke at 1:01.53 and third in the 50 freestyle at 23.77.

Wessner was third in the 200 IM at 2:21.31 and third in the 100 backstroke at 1:03.76.

Stampone came in second in the 100 breaststroke at 1:09.00 and third in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:02.25.

Wilkes returns to the pool on Saturday when it will host the First Annual Colonel Sprint Invite starting at 11:00 a.m.