The Columbia men's swimming & diving team swam well against powerful Harvard just 24 hours ago. On Saturday, according to head coach Jim Bolster, the Lions swam even better -- unfortunately for a rebuilding Army team, which ran into a powerful Ivy League/EISL squad.

Columbia won early and often in defeating the Cadets, 182-118, for its first victory of the season. The Lions are now 1-2, while Army falls to 3-2.

"Army's new coach, Mickey Werner, has done a nice job in turning around their program," Bolster noted, "and in a few years they're going to be a serious threat. But they're not there yet."

The mismatch in talent gave Bolster and his staff a prime opportunity "to let some kids swim who wouldn't normally get in, and to let some of those kids win."

The meet proved a golden opportunity for two first-years, Stephen Yang and Josh Brown, to post their first collegiate victories. Yang won the 100 and 200-yard backstroke events, and Brown captured the 100 butterfly.

Sophomore Darren Pagan turned in a marvelous meet. The Californian recorded first places in the 100 free and 200 individual medley, as well as leading off the victorious 200 medley relay. He picked up a second place in the 200 free.

Junior Cedric Cheung-Lau posted two more victories, in the 200 fly and 500 free. Three other Lions notched two second places each -- sophomore Nick Barron in the 100 and 200 fly; sophomore Gabe Schubiner in the 100 and 200 backstrokes; and junior Jeff Hull in the one and three-meter dives.

Hull and first-year David Levkoff went 2-3 in both dives against Army, which has a strong diving corps. Another first-year, Adam Powell, just missed a victory in the 50 free; he was touched out by junior John Dragelin, 21.39 to 21.41, a margin of .02.

The Army meet was one of three in Bolster's plan to simulate the post-season Easterns, which has racing for three straight days. Following Friday's Harvard meet and today's Army event, Columbia will swim Fordham Monday at 6 p.m.

The Army meet marked the team's last appearance at the Uris Swimming Center until Saturday, January 26, when they face Cornell at 4 p.m.