NEW YORK CITY – The University of Pennsylvania men's swimming and diving team enjoyed quality performances from junior Matthew Fallon and junior diver Cody Hopkins, but ultimately fell short in a 161-125 defeat at Columbia Friday afternoon.
 
Both Fallon and Hopkins tallied a pair of first-place finishes to open up their 2023-24 seasons, but the Lions prevailed in New York City.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*Fallon started his day off with a victory in the 100-yard breaststroke, timing in at 53.13 and beating out Columbia's Joshua Corn for second (55.65). He also took first in his main event, the 200 breast with a sub-2:00 1:59.19 to take first over the Lions' Demirkan Demir (2:01.62). Fallon also put forth a strong effort in a distance race, taking second in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:34.00 to beat out teammate Truman Armstrong (4:37.15).
 
*Hopkins had the honor of leading off the meet in the three-meter dive, scoring a 346.20 to beat out teammate Jack Williams (339.00). He also took the victory in the one-meter dive with a score of 307.73.
 
*Penn's only other win on the day came in the 400 free relay, earning a 1-2-3 sweep. The quartet of James Curreri, Liam Campbell, Ryan Mcguirk and Alex Fu took first (3:04.21), while Xavier Hill, Armstrong, Daniel Gallagher and Peter Lee finished in second position with a time of 3:08.03. Placing third, Jonathan Javier Koumendakos, Sam Donchi, Henry Sheils and Robert Melsom clocked in at 3:14.65.
 
*The 200 medley relay finished second with Gallagher, Fallon, Fu and Campbell (1:31.44).
 
*The freshman Melsom earned a second-place finish in the 1,000 free (9:36.39), with Kevin Keil taking third (9:40.78) and Armstrong placing fourth (9:43.17).
 
*Curreri finished second in the 100-yard backstroke (50.11), while in the 200 back, he nearly overtook Gallagher (1:48.91) for second, timing in at 1:48.91.
 
*Peter Whittington had a strong collegiate debut in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:50.71, topping teammate Fu (1:51.37) in third. Whittington also took third place in the 200 IM (1:52.64).
 
*Campbell earned a second-place finish in the 50 free (20.89), while Fu took third in the 100 fly (49.82).
 
Up Next
Penn returns to Sheerr Pool next weekend to host Brown at noon.

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