Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2016
- Class:
- 2004
Sport: Swimming & Diving
Meghan Freese Dirito is one of the finest sprint freestylers in the history of the Bucknell women's swimming program. Freese smashed fellow Hall-of-Famer Margaret Grunow's 12-year-old school records in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events. Freese also graduated ranked No. 2 all-time in the 100 backstroke, and she helped break three more Bucknell records in relays.
A three-time All-Patriot League performer, Freese turned in one of the best Patriot League Championship meets in league history as a junior in 2003, when she swept the 50 and 100 freestyles and also won gold medals with three different relays while helping Bucknell to the team title in the very first championship meet ever held in the brand-new Kinney Natatorium. That would be the first of four straight Patriot League crowns for the Bison women's swimming team.
As a senior, Freese repeated as league champion in the 50 and 100 free, re-setting her own school and league records while meeting the NCAA B-Cut standard in both events. He own marks would hold up for five more years in the 50 and nine more in the 100. She scored 56 points at the 2004 Patriot League Championships and 199 in her career, which was tied with teammate Daniela Faas for the most in the league among the senior class.Â
Freese won three straight Patriot League titles in the 50 free, and she captured the 100 free in 2003 and 2004. In addition to the two Patriot League team titles, Freese swam on Bison squads that went 25-6 in duals, including a 16-meet winning streak.
A native of New Freedom, Pa., and a graduate of Susquahannock High School, Freese capped off her career by winning the Christy Mathewson Award as the top athlete in her class at Bucknell. She went to to receive her doctorate of veterinary medicine degree from St. George's University and became a practicing veterinarian while also competing in triathlons.Â
(Bucknell Hall of Fame Class of 2016)
