Valparaiso dove into the water for the first time in the 2005-2006 season on Friday evening and the Crusaders finished in 5th place out of seven schools at the Dennis Stark Relays hosted by Notre Dame.

The Crusaders tallied 78 points on the evening, besting Cleveland State and Marquette. Notre Dame won the meet with 254 points while Wisconsin-Milwaukee was just ahead of the Crusaders with 102 points.

Valpo finished fifth in the 400 individual medley relay as the team of Kyle Verage (Hubertus, Wis./Marquette Univ. H.S.), David Peterson (Schererville, Ind./Highland H.S.), Dan Cisek (Willowbrook, Ill./Hinsdale South H.S.), and Scott Dueball (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West H.S.) finished with a time of 4:02.23.

The 500 crescendo relay also was fifth with the team of David Kesler (Beverly Hills, Mich./Birmingham Groves H.S.), P.J. Ciotola (Darien, Ill./Benet Academy), Brian Kelly (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso H.S.), Mike Stachniak (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg H.S.), and Edward Standen (Saint Joseph, Mich./Saint Joseph H.S.) turning in an effort of 4:44.86.

The 400 back relay also earned a fifth place effort as Stachniak, Travis Thames (Tuscon, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro H.S.), Adam Jajtner (Port Washington, Wis./Port Washington H.S.) touched the wall in 4:14.71.

Valpo will return to the water on October 21 to begin its dual meet season with a 2 p.m. CDT meet in Cincinnati, Ohio against Xavier.