Bucknell University
Patriot League Championships
Bison Men's Swimming and Diving Take Early Lead At PL Championships
2/21/2003 7:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 21, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Backed by Peter Garvin's two gold medals, Bucknell's men's swimming and diving team enjoyed a terrific first day at the Patriot League Championships, and the Bison rest in first place with a total of 218 points. The Bison men won two of the six events, while breaking school record in one event on Thursday evening at Kinney Natatorium.
The Bison men lead the championship by 31 points over defending champion Lehigh. Third-place American is just a single point back of Lehigh at 186, followed by Army (169), Lafayette (115), Colgate (109) and Holy Cross (64).
The Orange and Blue had an opportunity to host its first Patriot League Swimming Championship in the newly opened Kinney Natatorium. Bucknell has not hosted a swimming championship since 1969, when the men's team hosted the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships.
Bucknell got off to an outstanding start in the very first event of the evening finals, winning the 200-yard freestyle relay. Jake Thieman, Michael Guskey, Michael Willats and Garvin finished with a time of 1:22.17 for the gold.
Garvin later grabbed the Bison's only individual gold in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 20.52. That was just part of a big scoring night in the 50 free for Bucknell. Thieman placed seventh in 21.13, while Guskey (21.33), Willats (21.42) and Stelios Saffos (21.44) swept the top three spots in the consolation final. Stephen Schwanhausser earned a fourth place finish in the 200-yard IM, clocking in at 1:54.38. Todd Bauer finished at 4:38.66 in the 500-yard freestyle for a fifth-place finish. Bucknell's 400-yard medley relay team, featuring Christopher Feinthel, Guskey, Mark Kretzer and Garvin, set a new school record with a second-place time of 3:22.93.
In the first diving competition of the championships, Bucknell's Adam Freeman finished third on the three-meter springboard with a score of 417.05. Other Thursday winners include American's Jeffroy Erwan in the 500 free (4:28.42), Mark Liscinsky in the 200 IM (1:47.20) and the 400 medley relay team. Army's Doug Kline finished with the gold in the three-meter diving (443.00).
Bucknell will return to the pool, Friday, Feb. 21 at 10:30 a.m. for another day of trials, while the finals will begin at 6 p.m. in Kinney Natatorium. The Patriot League Swimming and Diving Championships will also continue on Saturday, Feb. 22 with trials at 10:30 a.m. and finals beginning at 6 p.m.
Men's Scores (Day One): Bucknell, 218; Lehigh, 187; American, 186; Army, 169; Lafayette, 115; Colgate, 109; Holy Cross, 64.
