INDIANAPOLIS -- Junior John Weigel had a big day at the NCAA Championships and the Bates men's swimming team broke another NESCAC record on their way to a pair of All-America performances Thursday at the IU Natatorium. 

Weigel (Iowa City, Iowa) earned the first individual All-America honors of his career when he placed fourth in the consolation final and 12th overall in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:38.42. This came on the heels of his morning prelims time of 1:38.03, which got him into the coveted top-16 in the field and a chance to swim at night. He is the first male swimmer in Bates history to pick up All-America honors in the 200 freestyle.

It proved to be a multiple All-America day for Weigel, as he led off the 200-yard freestyle relay team. The Bobcats took second in the prelims in 1:19.02 and then broke their own NESCAC record in the championship final.

Weigel, senior captain Marrich Somridhivej (South Windsor, Conn.), junior Benjamin Wolking (Micanopy, Fla.), and senior captain Max Cory (Dublin, Calif.) touched the wall in 1:18.94, good for fifth place. It's the best 200-yard freestyle relay finish for Bates at the NCAA Championships in program history.

It's the first All-America honor for Wolking, who has undergone three heart surgeries during his time at Bates. It's the 13th All-America honor for Cory, who has blown past Teddy Pender '18 (11 All-America awards) to become the most decorated men's sport athlete in Bates history. 

Bates men's swimming has tallied 90 points through the first two days of the NCAA Championships, good for sixth place out of 42 scoring teams.

The Bobcats are back in action on Friday, competing in the men's 200-yard medley relay, 200-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke, and 100-yard breaststroke. Junior Sarah Palmer (Brunswick, Maine) will represent the Bates women's team in the 100-yard breaststroke on Friday. Prelims are set for 10 a.m., with finals at 6 p.m.