TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Four event victories and a pair of times for freshmen that went into the program record book highlighted a rainy opening session of the two-day Seminole Fall Classic for Purdue Men’s Swimming & Diving.
The meet has been heavily impacted by the incoming Hurricane Isaias while being held outdoors at Florida State’s Morcom Aquatics Center. Georgia Tech opted not to travel as originally planned, altering the meet field to Purdue vs. FSU on the men’s side and the Seminoles vs. Iowa State on the women’s. Friday’s session was moved up from 7 p.m. to 11 a.m.
Including the Boilermakers’ 1-2 finish in 3-meter diving, the team scoring at the midway point of the 22-event invitational is believed to feature FSU holding a 166.5-160.5 lead. Zach Welsh and Kaden Springfield teamed up for the 1-2 finish in the lone diving event Friday.
Purdue was also victorious in the 200 medley relay to open the meet as well as the 50-yard events contested Friday – Jānis Dzirkalis in the 50 freestyle and Chris Bartmess in the 50 breaststroke. Bartmess and Dzirkalis also teamed with Luca Scampicchio and Nathaniel Thomas on the victorious relay. Their time of 1:26.18 was good for ninth place in the team record book. There were four different nations represented on the relay – Italy, USA, Jamaica and Latvia.
“It’s an exciting meet and the circumstances couldn’t be more unique, what with copious rain, impending hurricane, and outdoor swimming for us at least. We love it,” Purdue head coach Alex Jerden said. “Competitively, this team knows where it wants to go and we’re very much looking forward to this matchup. Many of these races today were so close and we were glad to find success in several of our efforts. Impressed by FSU, as it’s clear the Noles have got great depth and found a way to get the edge on us down the stretch.
“Tomorrow, if the weather cooperates, I’m excited to see how we bring the energy and if we can capitalize on the little things. More fun ahead, for sure!”
Action is slated to conclude beginning Saturday at 10 a.m., weather permitting. Scattered thunderstorms are in the forecast for Saturday morning and the area is currently in the midst of a tropical storm warning.
Freshman Aran Bissett impressed in both of his runner-up showings Friday, moving into seventh place in team history with a time of 1:35.50 in the 200 free. Jerden believed it was possible Bissett’s time of 47.87 in the 100 individual medley could be a team record. He posted it in a non-NCAAs sponsored event that is featured at a meet very infrequently and thus no official time record stands.
Bissett and Evan Mackesy finished 2-3 in the 100 IM, a feat duplicated by freshman Tom Jhang and junior Charles Lee in the 200 breast.
Along with swimming on both of Purdue’s top-performing relays Friday, Scampicchio moved into 11th place in team history with a time of 47.20 as the runner-up in the 100 butterfly.
Dzirkalis posted an event-best 50 free split of 19.08 on the anchor leg of the 200 medley relay. That matched his team record time in the 50 from last season, albeit not being his fastest 50 on a relay split since becoming a Boilermaker in the fall of 2025.
Saturday’s order of events features: 100 medley relay, 500 free, 50 fly, 100 breast, 200 back, 100 free, 200 fly, 50 back, 200 IM, 200 free relay and 1-meter diving.
FRIDAY NOTABLES AT FSU
Purdue’s Top Finishers & Notables
3-Meter Diving
Zach Welsh, List Score TBA – Event Winner; Welsh & Springfield Finished 1-2
50 Free
Jānis Dzirkalis, 19.71 – Event Winner
200 Free
Aran Bissett, 1:35.50 – Finished 2nd; 7th Fastest in Team History
100 Back
Blake Rowe, 48.12 – Finished T-2nd
50 Breast
Chris Bartmess, 24.61 – Event Winner
200 Breast
Tom Jhang, 1:58.36 – Finished 2nd; Jhang & C. Lee Finished 2-3
100 Fly
Luca Scampicchio, 47.20 – Finished 2nd; 11th Fastest in Team History
100 IM
Aran Bissett, 47.81 – Finished 2nd; Out Touched by .07 Hundredths; Bissett & Mackey Finished 2-3
400 IM
Evan Mackesy, 3:51.80 – Finished 2nd
100 Free Relay
Thomas, Dzirkalis, Scampicchio & Bissett, 35.57 – Finished 2nd; Purdue's Teams Finished 2-3
200 Medley Relay
Scampicchio, Bartmess, Thomas & Dzirkalis, 1:26.18 – Event Winner; 9th Fastest in Team History
Boilermakers Win 4 Events in the Rain on Day 1 at FSU
Purdue was victorious in 3-meter diving, 50 free, 50 breast and 200 medley relay while competing outdoors in Tallahassee.