TROY, N.Y. – The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's and women's swimming and diving teams kicked off their 2010-11 seasons in fine fashion, sweeping dual meets over Roger Williams University on Saturday at Robison Pool. The Engineers men won 179-121, while the women were victorious, 174-120.

RPI had multiple winners on each team as sophomores Ben LeRose (Williamsburg, VA/Lafayette) and Mairead Lyons (Leominster, MA/Notre Dame Academy each won four events. Le Rose was victorious in the 100-butterfly (54.44), the 100-freestyle (49.90) and the 200-individual medley (2:01.72). He also helped the 200-medley relay team to victory in a time of 1:39.47.

Lyons claimed victory in the 200-free (2:04.49), the 100-fly (1:01.45) and the 500-free (5:40.05). Like LeRose on the men's side, she helped the women's 200-medley relay team to victory with a time of 1:54.25.

Also performing well for the Engineers was junior Eva Skorupka (North Andover, MA/Central Catholic), who won the 100-backstroke (1:05.16) and was also victorious in the 50-back (30.43). She was also a member of the victorious 200-medley relay team with Lyons.

In the diving events, RPI swept off both boards with senior captain Grace Fitzgerald (Manchester, NH/Manchester) winning the 1-meter with 206.03 points and the 3-meter with a score of 203.25 points. Freshman Miguel Hummel (Pittsburgh, NY/Fordham Prep) picked up the wins on the men's side with a score of 227.93 points off the 1-meter board and 254.98 points in the 3-meter event.

The Engineers also swept the 400-freestyle relay events. The men, comprised of junior Luke Flanagan (Old Bethpage, NY/Plainview-Old Bethpage-JFK), rookies Maruti Kolluru (Berwyn, PA/Conestoga Senior) and David James (Bakersfield, CA/Liberty), along with senior Brandon McDowell (Alexandria, VA/West Potomac), won with a time of 3:24.53.

On the women's side the foursome of sophomores Tina Belletete (Winchendon, MA/Gardner), Kathleen McDowell (Alexandria, VA/West Potomac), Monika Grinbergs (Sammamish, WA/East Lake) and Grace Tilton (Concord, NH/Concord) won with a time of 3:55.40.

Rensselaer is back in the pool next weekend, traveling to Ithaca on Saturday for a 1pm dual meet against the Bombers. Roger Williams is also in on Saturday, heading to Wheaton for a dual meet at 1pm.