MEDFORD, MA (January 17, 2026) – The Tufts University men's swimming & diving team returned to action today with a NESCAC meet against Bates College at Hamilton Pool, defeating the Bobcats by a 172.5 to 97.5 score.
The Jumbos saw junior
Rafae Shafi and sophomore
Ron Lyubman tie in the 200 freestyle race early in the meet, then both added victories later to lead the Jumbos.
Shafi and Lyubman both had 1:42.28 times in the 200 freestyle to tie for first place. Lyubman then won the 100 freestyle in 47.74 seconds, while Shafi picked up the victory in the 500 freestyle (4:42.89).
The Jumbos had started the meet with a narrow loss to the Bobcats in the 400 medley relay. The Tufts time of 3:19.46 was just 0.02 behind the Bates mark. The Jumbo foursome was freshman
Nico Ogawa, junior
Jack Nussbaum, freshman
Max Gerke and senior
Armaan Sikka.
Tufts would get its first win of the day from junior
Dan Godino in the 1,000 freestyle with his 9:52.51 time. Freshman
Adam Li would add another win in the 200 butterfly in a 1:53.39 mark, then Nussbaum had a 2:01.22 win in the 200 breaststroke.
Victories for freshman
Isaac Shang in the 50 butterfly (22.84) and
Timmy Brady in the 200 individual medley (1:54.54) rounded out the swimming wins for the Jumbos.
Junior
Jay Wilkinson and senior
Elias Brandt were the only two divers to compete, which was held Friday evening at MIT. Both hit NCAA qualifying marks in both events. Wilkinson was first in one-meter (332.47) and three-meter (305.62). Brandt earned scores of 275.92 in one-meter and 299.10 in three-meter.
Others leading Tufts today included Ogawa's second-place finishes in the 50 backstroke in 24.08 seconds and the 200 backstroke in a 1:51.55 mark. Gerke added a runner-up finish of 21.30 seconds in the 50 freestyle. Nussbaum's 26.41 was fourth in the 50 breaststroke.
A mixed 200 freestyle relay was held to close the meet. Tufts' Shang and Gerke were joined by women's team members Alec Lazorisak and Quincy Wheeler to post the 1:30.08 fastest time.
In addition to swimming the lead-off leg in Bates' victorious 400 medley relay, Tim Johnson also won the 50 and 200 backstrokes for the Bobcats.
Seniors
Louie Demetriades,
Jack Moore,
Nate Pfeffer,
Armaan Sikka and
Connor Townson were recognized by the Jumbos in a Senior Day ceremony.
Next for Tufts is a dual meet at MIT next Saturday.
--JUMBOS--
