ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Mount Union men's swimming and diving team defeated St. Vincent (Pa.), 154-111, Friday evening at Hammond Natatorium.

The Purple Raiders were led by sophomores Gavin Rundell (Mount Vernon/Mount Vernon), Marcus Zappa (Aherst/Amherst Steele) and freshman Tyler Moore (Amherst/Amherst) who each took first place finishes in two events and members of a relay team.

Rundell took first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:45.95) and the 100-yard freestyle (49.29), Zappa won the 1000-yard freestyle (10:38.85) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:09.01). While Moore took first in 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.01) and the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:16.87 and swam the best time in the pool in the 400 IM (4:34.14).

Others taking first place were seniors Zach Melvin (Woodmere/Orange) who took first in the 100-yard backstroke (58.20) and Mike Zappa (Shelby/Shelby) in the 100-yard butterfly (53.80), and junior Hayden Birnbrich (Pataskala/Columbus St. Charles Prep) took first in the 50-yard freestyle (21.91) and sophomore Michael Branch (Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde) took first place in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:08.01).

In relay action, the team of Birnbrich, Moore, Zappa (Mike), and Rundell took first place in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:38.89. While the team of Birnbrich, Zappa (Mike), Matt Campbell (Louisville/Louisville) and Austin Moreland (Dover/New Philadelphia) swam a 1:29.58 for the best time in the pool in the 200-yard freestyle relay.

Mount Union (4-1) will travel to Delaware, Ohio Saturday, November 16 at 1 pm to face-off against Ohio Wesleyan.