The Elis headed to Amherst, Mass. on Saturday and continued their strong start to the season, placing first in every event to defeat Division I University of Massachusetts 213– 87.

The team was able to put pressure on the opposition early by taking the top two spots in the first three events. In the 200-yard medley relay, Yale’s “A” team of Mike Lazris ’15, Andrew Heymann ’15, Alwin Firmansyah ’15 and Pat Killian ’15 broke a pool record with a time of 1:32.01.

In total, the Bulldogs swept five events on Saturday, taking the top three spots in the 100-yard backstroke, the 100-yard breaststroke, the 200-yard butterfly, the 500-yard freestyle and the 200-yard IM.

Captain Jared Lovett ’13 attributes the team’s success to its attitude and versatility.

“A good mentality of ours has been, ‘Let’s see if we can break some records,’” Lovett said. “We have a lot of depth in our team.”

Heymann, Lazris, and Rob Harder ’15 each won two events apiece, with Heymann breaking another pool record, this time for the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 56.81.

Firmansyah, who had won three individual events in each of the two prior meets, was again in top form, winning the 50-yard freestyle, as well as contributing to two other relay victories.

Lovett called particular attention to the improvements Firmansyah has made this year.

“Alwin’s incredibly talented,” Lovett said. “He’s started off really, really well and taken on a leadership role now that he’s not a freshman.”

The team has started the season strong, building on what it did last year when it finished third in the Ivy League. In addition to a first-place finish at Bucknell on Nov. 16, they have amassed two scrimmage victories and a win over their biggest rival Columbia.

The team’s next meet is against Cornell (0–4) on Jan. 7 at home. Lazris said that while Cornell has struggled so far this season, the Bulldogs must be focused by the time the meet comes around.

“We have to give the same intensity every meet,” Lazris said. “It’s very easy to lose.”

Although they have no meets before their match against Cornell, the Bulldogs will be hard at work, training as they do every year over winter break.

“We don’t get a lot of time off,” Lovett said. “We’ll do a ton of work and come back to New Haven to face Cornell. We’ll be focused and ready.”

The team will head to Florida on Dec. 27 to prepare for the second half of the season. Until then, Lovett noted that they are satisfied at where they stand.

“We’re sitting pretty high right now,” Lovett said. “We’re really proud of how the season’s turned out.”