KENOSHA, Wis. – Albion is off to a fast start in the Carthage College Winter Classic as the 200-yard freestyle relay team and Matt Hooper achieved school record performances.

Brian Fiorillo, Austin Bateman, Derek Bosko, and Brad Melpolder set a winning time of 1:23.52 in the relay. Fiorillo also took the individual title in the 100 freestyle, completing the championship race in 46.03 seconds. Bosko was third (46.35) and Bateman was fifth (47.80).

Albion also gained first place in the 800 freestyle relay. Melpolder, Hooper, Josh Boren and Tom Parsons posted a winning time of 7:02.33.

Swimming the 100 breaststroke, Hooper achieved the school record during the morning preliminary when he completed his race in 57.27 seconds and he improved on the mark with a winning time of 57.19.

With the championship performances, Albion sits third in the team standings. The Britons racked up 479 points on the first day of competition.

Melpolder was the runner-up in the 500 freestyle, completing the final in 4:47.50. Blake Blair was ninth in the race, touching the wall in 4:59.71.

Blair added a ninth-place finish in the 200 backstroke (2:08.77) to finish behind Parsons and Nick Deppner who finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Parsons completed the final in 2:00.73.

Boren was fifth in the 200 IM, breaking the 2-minute mark at 1:59.91.