Valparaiso moved up two spots in the team standings on Friday at the House of Champions Invitational in Indianapolis, Ind., climbing into fourth position heading into the final day of the meet.

The Crusaders have tallied 258.5 points after Friday's showing, and trail IUPUI for third place. The Jaguars have tallied 346 points. Eastern Illinois leads with 507.5 points, followed by Western Illinois with 486. Eastern Michigan is fifth with 208 points, followed by Miami (Ohio) with 195. Vincennes (105) and Wabash (80) round out the field.

Travers Smith (Huntley, Ill./Huntley H.S.) set the third men's school mark of the meet finishing third in the 100 butterfly. His time of 51.02 seconds shattered Joel Bretscher's 1979 time of 52.33 seconds. Bob Pedersen (Urbana, Ill./Urbana H.S.) also scored in the event for the Crusaders, placing 14th with a time of 54.19 seconds.

David Peterson (Schererville, Ind./Highland H.S.) became the first individual champion of the meet for the Crusaders. He won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 59.24 seconds, .30 seconds in front of the field. Bob Schmidt (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville H.S.) finished fifth with a time of 1:00.62. Patrick Kirby (Danville, Ill./Schlarman H.S.) and Scott Dueball (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West H.S.) also scored for the Crusaders, finishing 12th and 13th respectively with times of 1:05.47 and 1:06.24.

Valpo opened the middle day with a sixth place finish in the 200 medley relay as Smith, Peterson, David Kesler (Beverly Hills, Mich./Birmingham Groves H.S.), and Pedersen touched the wall in 1:38.47.

Greg Stock (Kirkwood, Mo./Kirkwood H.S.) carried the torch as the only Crusader to swim in the 400 individual medley. He placed 13th with a time of 4:34.25.

Jeff Lange (Woodbridge, Conn./Amity Regional H.S.) led the Valpo contingent in the 200 freestyle. The freshman finished 14th with a time of 1:51.60, one place in front of Kesler, who turned in a time of 1:52.65.

Smith also finished runner-up in the 100 backstroke with a time of 53.10. Mike Stachniak (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg H.S.) was seventh with a time of 56.57 seconds while Stock was ninth finishing in 57.68 seconds.

The Crusaders concluded day two with a fourth place finish in the 800 free relay. Smith, Stachniak, Peterson, and Pedersen turned in a time of 7:08.74.

Valpo will conclude the 2004-2005 season on Saturday as competition comes to a close at the invitational. Preliminary heats begin at 9 a.m. CST with finals slated for 5 p.m.