WILSON, N.C. – The Catawba College men's swimming team took the Barton Bulldogs down to the wire with only nine swimmers in dual meet action on Saturday afternoon. The Indians fell by just four points 258-254. 

Rodrigo Fernandez was victorious in the 200-yard backstroke by crusing into the wall with a time of 1:58.72, seven seconds faster than the second place finisher. Elias Hysing won the 500-yard freestyle by edging out Barton's Ethan Maddrey by a second. Hysing finished with a time of 4:53.65. 

Freshman Alejandro Alvarez had another impressive day after he won the 200 butterfly and the 200 IM. Alvarez posted a sub-two-minute time of 1:59.42 in the 200 fly and swam a 1:58.03 in the individual medley. He also finished second in the 200 freestyle after swimming a time of 1:46.76. 

The men's swim team will be back in the pool next Friday in a tri-meet with Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate.