Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Swimming and Diving Set to Add 25 Athletes for 2005-06 Season
6/16/2005 8:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
June 16, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Head coach Jerry Foley and the Bucknell men's and women's swimming and diving teams have announced the addition of 25 new members for the 2005-06 season. The Bison will welcome a total of 12 men and 13 women to Kinney Natatorium this fall. The 25 new faces, who make up the second-largest recruiting class of Foley's tenure, boast not only impressive athletic accolades but also high academic standards.
"We're really excited about the quantity and quality of the incoming class," said Foley of a group that includes 24 freshman and one transfer. "They're going to challenge us all to get better."
The 13 newcomers on the women's side will undoubtedly add depth to the three-time defending Patriot League Champions. Joining the always strong Bison sprint freestyle group will be Tara Brennan, a state finalist from Golden, Colo., Susan Horstmann, who was named "Most Valuable Swimmer" at Cardinal O'Hara for the past three seasons, and Alexandra Lovallo, an all-state and All-America honoree from Ridgefield, Conn.
Filling out the distance freestyle contingent will be Kerrie Meskimen, an all-state and all-conference swimmer from Medina, Minn., who also excels in the individual medley events, Brittany Neligan, a sophomore transfer from the University of South Carolina, Meghan O'Neill, a member of an 18 & Under National Championship team from Dunwoody, Ga., and Ally St. Claire, a combination freestyler/backstroker from Silver Spring, Md.
Three women will bring breaststroking experience to the team including Rebecca Cottrell, an All-American in the 200 medley and 200 free relays from San Jose, Calif., Christine Friedlander, a two-year Y national qualifier in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, and Nicole Seaman, a multi-sport athlete in high school in Cleveland, Ohio, who will also compete in the IM races.
The Bison will add two athletes in the butterfly events with Christina Faurie, who hails from Export, Pa., and was her high school's Most Valuable Swimmer during her freshman and sophomore years, and Elisabeth Lukens, a member of the USA Swimming Scholastic All-American Team from Ellicott City, Md.
Bucknell will welcome one diver on the women's side with the addition of Lauren Anderson, a multi-sport athlete from Mill Creek, Wash.
"The group represents a balance in all disciplines," said Foley adding he and his staff also had some specific goals this past recruiting year. "The men's team needed some depth in the backstroke and will really targeted some breaststrokers and IM swimmers for the women."
The Bison men will be joined by 12 recruits this fall after finishing fourth in the Patriot League in 2005. Several of the swimmers will hope to make an impact in several events next season including Chris Amato, a mulit-event swimmer from East Norwich, N.Y., who specializes in the sprint freestyle, backstroke and butterfly events, Mark Kawczenski, a sprint freestyler/backstroker/butterflyer from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and Jeffrey Ayers, a mid-distance freestyler and breastroker from Randolph, N.J.
Swimming in the sprint freestyle events will be Michael Deighan, a member of a state championship team in 2002 from Wyomissing, Pa., who is also an accomplished breaststroker, Robert Hrapczynski, a sprint freestyler/butterflyer from Sewell, N.J., and a member of the 2005 Non-Public A New Jersey state championship team, and Nick Robbins, a two-event All-America honoree from Old Greenwich, Conn.
Adding to the middle and long distance freestyle unit Alexander Lampley, a PIAA state qualifier from Reading, Pa., who will also play water polo at Bucknell, and Patrick Stummer, a four-year high school team captain from Fulton, N.Y.
Brendan McGregor, a three-time WPIAL Champion from Sarver, Pa., who specializes in the 200 free as well at the backstroke events, will also join the Bison along with Nick Hanes, a 100 and 200 backstroker from Wilmington, Del., who made the all-state first team in 2005.
Bucknell will also add a pair of divers to its men's roster with Jeffrey Manning, a conference and sectional champion from Bringhurst, Ind., and Gregory Zavoluk, an accomplished diver an academic All-America honoree from Stamford, Conn.
"It's too early to predict the impact of this group but the potential is there," explained Foley. "This year could be a real impact year for the men and the women."
The Bison lost a total of seven athletes to graduation this spring, and return many All-Patriot League selections for the upcoming season including freestyler Rebecca Scheffter and backstroke specialist Lectie Altman on the women's side, as well as diver Adam Freeman and backstoke and freestyle athlete Ian Rawhauser on the men's team.
