The William & Mary men's swimming team set itself up for a big evening on Saturday night at Northwestern's TYR Invitational, qualifying a meet-best 30 to the finals  in five events.  W&M had six championship finalists and 12 in the consolation finals earn scoring opportunities, elevating the Tribe to second overall in the team standings with 313 points.  Host Northwestern leads with 560 points, with Michigan State in third with 302 points and Saint Louis lurking in fourth with 267 points.

400 IM
- W&M started the morning strong with four championship finalists in the 400 IM.  Leading the way was junior Chris Balbo (Short Hills, N.J.), who swam 3:55.38 to take third overall.  Freshman Steven Thalblum (Ashburn, Va.) was right behind him in 3:59.88 for fourth place, and the No. 14 spot on the Tribe's all-time athletes list.
- Also making the top final was junior Ben Skopic (Mariottsville, Md.), fifth in 4:00.23, and senior Carter Kale (Williamsburg, Va.), who was sixth in 4:00.87 to improve to 15th all-time at W&M.
- Sophomore Jake Kealy (Wilton, Conn.) and freshman Kade Younger (Newport News, Va.) both advanced to the consolation finals.  Kealy touched the wall in 4:03.86 for 12th overall, while Younger finished his race in 4:06.09 for 15th place.
- Junior Philip Barto (Midlothian, Va.) earned the top seed in the bonus finals, swimming 4:07.49 for 17th overall.  He'll be joined by three teammates, including James Mostofi (Darien, Conn.) who was 21st in 4:11.30.  Freshman Ryan Bebel (Westfield, N.J.) took 22nd with a time of 4:14.46, and junior Ian Bidwell (Pelham, N.Y.) swam 4:15.85 for 24th place and the final qualifying spot.
 

Place	Athlete	Time
3.	Chris Balbo	3:55.38	A Finals
4.	Steve Thalblum	3:59.88	A Finals, #14 athlete
5.	Ben Skopic	4:00.23	A Finals
6.	Carter Kale	4:00.87	A Finals, #15 athlete
12.	Jake Kealy	4:03.86	B Finals
15.	Kade Younger	4:06.09	B Finals
17.	Philip Barto	4:07.49	C Finals
21.	James Mostofi	4:11.30	C Finals
22.	Ryan Bebel	4:14.46	C Finals
24.	Ian Bidwell	4:15.85	C Finals

100 Fly
- In the 100 fly, junior Jack Doherty (Middletown, Conn.) earned his championship qualifying spot after timing 49.73 seconds for seventh overall.
- His classmate Colin Wright (Williamsburg, Va.) earned the top seed in the consolation finals with his ninth-place 49.86, where he'll be joined by Joey Rento (Newport News, Va.), 11th in 50 seconds flat, and Ian Thompson (Alexandria, Va.), who was 16th in 50.36 seconds.
- Redshirt-senior Evan Baker (Chantilly, Va.) has the top spot in the bonus finals, taking 17th overall in 50.46 seconds.  Also making the C final was freshman Jack Galbraith (Vienna, Va.), who was 21st in 50.98 seconds.
 

Place	Athlete	Time
7.	Jack Doherty	49.73	A Finals
9.	Colin Wright	49.86	B Finals
11.	Joey Rento	50.00	B Finals
16.	Ian Thompson	50.36	B Finals
17.	Evan Baker	50.46	C Finals
21.	Jack Galbraith	50.98	C Finals
40.	Ramzy Ali	52.55

200 Free
- In the 200 free, sophomore Christopher Pfuhl (Charlotte, N.C.) posted the team's top time in 1:41.83, good for 10th overall and a spot in the consolation finals.  Also making the B final was junior Lee Bradley (Crestwood, Ky.), who took 15th in 1:42.69.
- Senior Eric Grimes (Louisville, Ky.) was one of two for W&M to make the bonus finals, touching the wall in 1:43.57 for 20th overall.  Balbo made the turnaround from the 400 IM to finish 23rd overall and qualify for his second final, stopping the clock in 1:43.91.
 

Place	Athlete	Time
10.	Christopher Pfuhl	1:41.83	B Finals
15.	Lee Bradley	1:42.69	B Finals
20.	Eric Grimes	1:43.57	C Finals
23.	Chris Balbo	1:43.91	C Finals
30.	Carter Kale	1:44.62
31.	Aristides Speres	1:44.63
35.	Graham Hertweck	1:45.00

100 Breast
- Senior Brooks Peterson (Carrollton, Va.) finished sixth overall in the prelims of the 100 breast to earn a spot in the championship finals, coming into the wall at 57.01 seconds.
- Bidwell made his second final of the day thanks to a 57.56 showing, finishing 13th overall just ahead of freshman Ian Cobb (Vienna, Va.), who was 14th in 57.84 seconds.
- Skopic also qualified for his second final of the morning, advancing to the C finals in 58.34 seconds and 19th place alongside Bebel, who was 21st in 58.47 seconds.
 

Place	Athlete	Time
6.	Brooks Peterson	57.01	A Finals
13.	Ian Bidwell	57.56	B Finals
14.	Ian Cobb	57.84	B Finals
19.	Ben Skopic	58.34	C Finals
21.	Ryan Bebel	58.47	C Finals

100 Back
- Junior Colin Demers (Virginia Beach, Va.) qualified as one of three Tribe men in the consolation finals of the 100 back, swimming 50.78 to take 13th overall.
- Also advancing in scoring position were Bradley, 15th in 51.12 seconds, as well as Kealy, who swam 51.21 seconds for 16th overall.
- Thompson qualified in his second event of the day in the bonus finals, stopping the clock in 51.43 seconds for 18th overall.  He'll swim tonight alongside Galbraith, who also qualified after swimming 51.86 seconds for 21st overall.
 

Place	Athlete	Time
13.	Colin Demers	50.78	B Finals
15.	Lee Bradley	51.12	B Finals
16.	Jake Kealy	51.21	B Finals
18.	Ian Thompson	51.43	C Finals
21.	Jack Galbraith	51.86	C Finals
26.	Joey Rento	52.42
31.	Kade Younger	52.73
33.	Philip Barto	52.78

The finals of all five events, as well as the three-meter diving, 200 medley relay, and the 800 free relay, begins tonight at 5 p.m. Central, 6 p.m. Eastern.

2018 Northwestern TYR Invitational
Men's Team Standings
1. Northwestern 560
2. William & Mary 313
3. Michigan State 302
4. Saint Louis 267
5. Truman State 166
6. Illinois-Chicago 135