MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Junior Jaden Olson won two sprints and a relay to help the Amherst College men's swimming and diving team to a 178-48 win over Little Three rival Wesleyan University on Monday night at the Webster Family Natatorium.

The Mammoths, ranked 24th in the nation in the latest CSCAA Division III poll, improved to 2-0 on the season and took the early edge in the race for the Little Three championship. The Mammoths can claim the title with a win over Williams on Jan. 13. The Cardinals fell to 0-2.

Amherst is back in action on Saturday, Jan. 6, hosting Union at 1 p.m.

MEET HIGHLIGHTS:

* The Mammoths opened the meet by sweeping the top three spots in the 200-yard medley relay as Olson teamed with seniors Nolan Scanlan, Jeff Gerber and Will Taylor to win the race in 1:35.24.

* The meet featured 50-yard sprints in all four strokes and Olson captured the 50 back in 23.80 seconds and the 50 fly in 22.55 seconds. Olson has now won all four individual races he has contested this season.

* Taylor competed in his first 200-yard freestyle of the season, winning the event in 1:43.48.

* Swimming the event for the first time this season, sophomore Michael Jang won the 400-yard individual medley, touching in 4:15.98.

* Sophomore Fynlan Nadel was a winner for the first time as a collegian, taking the 50-yard breaststroke in 26.78 seconds.

* Senior Justin Papagelis took on the 100-yard butterfly for the first time this season and picked up the win in 52.63 seconds.

* Sophomore Ethan Van De Water sprinted to his first collegiate victory, winning the 50-yard freestyle in 21.92 seconds.

* Senior Tyler Knightly led an Amherst sweep of the top three spots in the 100-yard freestyle, clocking in at 48.04 seconds.

* First-year Henry Liu won an event for the second straight meet, taking the 100-yard breaststroke in 57.89 seconds.

* Junior Gabriele Lunardi competed in the 500-yard freestyle for the first time this season and led an Amherst sweep of the top three spots with a time of 4:53.95.