VESTAL, N.Y. – Senior Ross Bernstein won three individual events and seven other swimming posted two wins, highlighting Binghamton's sweep over Niagara and Siena in the season-opening tri-meet on Saturday afternoon at the Patricia A. Saunders Aquatic Center. The Bearcat women beat Niagara 214-84 and Siena 210.5-86.5 while men defeated Niagara 242-52.

The meet marked the debut of first-year Binghamton head coach Jerry Cummiskey. He spent the previous six years on the staff at Bryant before being named the Bearcats' head coach in July.

"This was a good meet," he said. "We had some good swims on both sides and our freshmen did very well. We have improved since our Green-White (intrasquad meet) two weeks ago and are heading in the right direction."

"It was great to get him his first win," Bernstein said. "It's been an easy transition, we all like him and we are excited about what is to come."

Bernstein captured the 100 fly (51.98), the 200 fly (1:56.28) and the 200 IM (1:58.53). It marked the second time in his career that he has won three events in a meet.

A pair of freshmen were double winners on the men's side. Justin Meyn swept the 50 free (21.74) and the 100 free (47.80) while Matthew Palguta took top honors in the 500 free (4:49.87) and 100 free (9:58.51). Also winning a pair of men's events was sophomore Ryan Board in the 100 breast (58.50) and the 200 breast (2:11.90).

The Bearcat women, meanwhile, had three double winners. Senior Sydney Atendido was first in the 100 breast (1:06.71) and 200 breast (2:29.63), junior Kaitlyn Smolar won the 200 free (1:57.82) and the 500 free (5:20.65) and fellow junior Erica Bachiller was triumphant in the 100 back (1:58.86) and 200 back (2:10.94). Senior Olivia Santos, meanwhile, touched first in the 50 free (25.34) and 100 free (54.29).

Other winners on the men's side included senior Dylan Van Manen in the 200 free (1:47.27), junior Shane Morris in the 100 back (53.74), sophomore Brian Harding in the 200 back (2:00.00), sophomore Chris Egan in the one-meter diving competition (284.55) and freshman Ryan Cohn in the three-meter diving event (265.34).

On the women's side, other winners included freshman Meadow Perez in the 200 fly (2:10.64), sophomore Belen Marriaga in the 100 fly (59.55) and fellow sophomore Amanda McGraw in the three-meter diving event (210.45).

Meyn also anchored the first-place 200 medley relay and 400 free relay teams, which clocked winning times of 1:35.08 and 3:14.83 respectively. He was joined by Morris, Board and Bernstein in the 200 medley relay as well as senior Tyler Meyers, sophomore Benjamin Beldner and freshman Ryan Maierle in the 400 free.

Atendido and Santos swam on both first-place women's relay teams. The 200 medley relay team -- which also included Marriaga and Bachiller -- clocked a time 1:47.78. The 400 free relay team -- which also included Smolar and senior Kaitlyn Lange, finished in 3:39.82.

Smolar also spearheaded the swimming & diving team's "Paint the Pool" campaign, which was geared towards spreading awareness and raising funds in the fight against breast cancer. Both teams wore pink caps to commemorate the event. This marks the second year in a row that the Bearcats have designated a "Paint the Pool" meet.

"Today was our Paint the Pool meet to raise awarness for Breast Cancer," she said. "It was run through our Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and I had a lot of help doing this from both my teammates and SAAC. (Former swimmer) Brooke Pettis came up with this idea last year and it was a big success so we wanted to carry it over to this year."

Binghamton heads to Bucknell next Saturday for a 1 p.m. dual meet.