NEWARK, NJ -- NJIT won a pair of swim events and a diving event to take command of first place after the opening night of the NJIT Invitational Friday. 

The Highlanders (453 points) are the current leaders among a field with Bridgeport (440), Monmouth (281) and Saint Peter's (98). Villanova enters as a fifth team for tomorrow's final two sessions. 

NJIT claimed victories in the 200 Yard IM and 50 Freestyle Skins while Beckham DiPierro won the 3 Meter Diving (217.05) to set the tone in the three-session event. 

Mohamed Walid placed first the 200 Yard IM (1:51.83) and Luca Angelini won the 50 Freestyle Skins -- a four-round elimination-tournament style of the 50 Freestyle -- to lead NJIT. Angelini posted a 21.70 in the final round of the 50 Skin to top Bridgeport's Aleksander Rustad. 

The Highlanders also saw strong results outside of individual victories to stay atop the leaderboard. NJIT's "A" Team in the 200 Medley Relay -- Andrew Cellar, Edward Ormsby, Walid, and Angelini -- placed second in the 200 Medley Relay. Walid, Angelini, Giambelli, and Sam Lorenc posted a 2nd Place finish in the 800 Freestyle Relay to conclude the night. 

Up Next
The NJIT Invitational resumes tomorrow morning at 10:00am with the second session. The event concludes with the third session at 1pm. 

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