Valparaiso opened the 2010 Horizon League Swimming and Diving Championships in record-setting fashion on Wednesday evening as the Crusaders’ 200 medley relay posted a new school mark at the Flames Natatorium in Chicago, Ill.

The team of David Sivak (Hobart, Ind./Hobart H.S.), Trevor Trimpe (New Palestine, Ind./Connersville H.S.), Austin Hunter (La Crescent, Minn./La Crescent H.S.), and Blake Edwards (Orange, Calif./Lutheran H.S. of Orange County) turned in a time of 1:36.32 to better the mark set in 2009 by 0.08 seconds.  The relay finished sixth overall.

Individually, Kevin Fedde (Fort Collins, Colo./Heritage Christian H.S.) posted the second fastest 1,000 freestyle time in school history, touching the wall in 9:59.40.  The freshman placed 19th overall in the event.

The meet started with Valpo’s 200 freestyle relay finishing sixth.  The team of Trimpe, Andrew Hipskind (New Palestine, Ind./New Palestine H.S.), Fedde, and Thomas Patrick (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead H.S.) finished with a time of 1:30.36.

As a team Valpo finished day one with 52 points, sitting in sixth place. Clevealnd State leads the meet with 142 points followed by Milwaukee with 131 points.  UIC (129), Green Bay (120), and Wright State (116) rank ahead of the Crusaders.

Valpo will return to the water for day two of the four-day meet on Thursday morning.  Preliminary heats begin at 10:30 a.m. with finals slated for 6 p.m.