Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Swimming & Diving to Face Colgate and Army on Alumni Weekend
1/11/2007 7:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Jan. 11, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell swimming and diving teams will make their return to Kinney Natatorium this Saturday, Jan. 13, as the Orange and Blue will play host to Army and Colgate in a Patriot League matchup that is set to begin at 2 p.m. The meet will be taking place amidst Alumni Weekend as the squads welcome former Bison swimmers and divers back to Lewisburg for a variety of festivities.
During a break in the action on Saturday, the Orange and Blue will honor former Bison head coach, Dick Russell with a special presentation on the deck. Russell, a member of the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame, coached the men's swimming and diving team from 1968-94 and created the water polo program at Bucknell, guiding the team from its inception as a varsity sport in 1977 until 1986. Russell's swim teams compiled a dual-meet record of 154-121 and won 11 conference championships.
On the men's side, the Bison will be attempting to snap a three dual meet losing streak and are 3-3, 2-1 in the Patriot League, after starting the season with a 3-0 record. Bucknell is 22-9 all-time against the Raiders (2-4, 0-1 PL) since the series began in 1964 and has won the last 15 meetings with Colgate. The Orange and Blue have not lost to the Raiders at home since Jan. 24, 1978.
Bucknell has not had the same level of success against Army (4-2, 2-1 PL), however, as the Bison carry a 2-18 all-time record against the Black Knights into Saturday's action. The Orange and Blue will be looking to defeat Army for the first time since the 1974-75 season.
The four-time Patriot League champion Bison women will be looking to add victories to their 1-3-1 record (1-1-1 PL) this weekend, as well as avenge last year's upset by Colgate in Hamilton, N.Y., which was the first win for the Raiders over Bucknell in 21 years. The Orange and Blue leads the all-time series with Colgate by a 14-2 margin.
Against Army, who is currently 2-4, 1-2 in the Patriot League, the Bison women are 9-4 all-time. Bucknell has won the last five meetings with the Black Knights, including a 181-108 decision in West Point, N.Y., exactly one year ago Saturday.
Looking ahead, the Bison will next travel to New York, N.Y., on Saturday, Jan. 20, to take on Columbia, before returning home for the squads' final dual meet, against Lehigh, on Jan. 27. Bucknell will then wrap up its schedule by playing host to the Bison Invitational on Feb. 3, and to the Patriot League Championships on Feb. 15-17.
