Bucknell University
Lehigh *
Bucknell Men's Swimming & Diving Edged by Lehigh, 154-146
1/28/2007 7:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Jan. 27, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell men's swimming and diving team held a four-point lead with four events remaining, but could not hold off Lehigh as the Bison were nipped by the Mountain Hawks, 154-146, on Senior Day in Kinney Natatorium. Saturday's action concluded the dual-meet portion of the 2006-07 schedule for the Orange and Blue, with the team finishing up at 4-6, 3-3 in the Patriot League, while Lehigh moves to 4-3 overall and 3-1 against league opponents.
Despite the squad of sophomore Mark Kawczenski (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Hanover Area), junior Bradford Bennett (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area), senior Matt Crandell (Winchester, Va./John Handley) and junior Grant Steadman (Richmond, Va./Collegiate) posting the best time of the season for the Bison in the 400 medley relay, three minutes, 29.61 seconds, Bucknell found itself trailing the Mountain Hawks, 13-4 after a second-place finish in the opening event.
However, the Bison rebounded by taking the top two spots in the 1,000 free. Freshman Luke Trafton (Bath, Maine/Morse) was first to touch the wall with a team season-best time of 9:51.64, while sophomore Patrick Stummer (Fulton, N.Y./G. Ray Bodley) took second in 9:56.91. Junior Theo Leriotis (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional Senior High) provided points for the Orange and Blue, as well, in fourth with a time of 10:03.28.
Lehigh won the 200 free, but was able to only gain a point on Bucknell as freshman Daniel Fletcher (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove), sophomore Christopher Amato (East Norwich, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) and junior John Peterman (Conestoga, Pa./Penn Manor) captured second (1:45.72), third (1:46.16) and fourth (1:47.67), respectively.
The same results occurred in the next event, the 100 back, as the Mountain Hawks managed a win, but inched closer only by one, bringing the score to 38-36. Kawczenski led the Bison point-scorers, placing second with a time of 53.91. Freshman David Iselin (Potomac, Md./Churchill) took third in 55.52 and freshman Spencer Hallowell (Bath, Maine/Morse) was fourth (56.27).
With a one-two sweep in the 100 breast, Bucknell stretched its advantage to 13. Bennett was the winner and improved his personal best to 57.95, which ranks sixth in Bison history. Sophomore Michael Deighan (Wyomissing, Pa./Wilson) was the runner up with a time of 59.23, while junior Joseph Metcalf (Knoxville, Tenn./Phillips Exeter Academy) scored in fourth with a time of 1:00.51.
Crandell was victorious in the 200 fly, touching the wall in 1:54.67, but Lehigh took second, third and fourth to keep pace with the Orange and Blue, and then gained ground on the Bison in the 50 free, pulling within three at 67-64. Peterman and Steadman provided Bucknell with five points, finishing third (21.83) and fourth (22.01), respectively.
With wins in three-meter diving and the 100 free, the Mountain Hawks cut their deficit to one and finally overtook the Orange and Blue after recording 12 points in the 200 back. Sophomore Jeffrey Manning (Bringhurst, Ind./Carroll Jr./Sr. High) was the top scorer for Bucknell on the three-meter board with a mark of 257.63. Peterman was the runner-up in the 100 free with a time of 48.18, followed by Steadman in third (48.48) and Fletcher in fourth (48.90). Amato took second in the 200 back in a team-season best 1:57.05, while Iselin was third with a time of 1:58.67.
Deighan led Bucknell's three scorers in the 200 breast with a time of 2:10.12, good for second, but Lehigh posted a victory and collected a 10th point to remain in front, 105-106.
Stummer touched the wall in 4:50.03 to take first in the 500 free and give the Bison back the team lead with the help of freshman Ben Leboza (Green Oaks, Ill./Libertyville) and Trafton, who placed third (4:56.44) and fourth (4:57.19), respectively.
However, the Mountain Hawks responded by taking the top two spots in the 100 fly and 400 IM, to regain the advantage and further held their ground with a win in three-meter diving. Even though the team of Peterman, Kawczenski, Fletcher and Steadman was victorious for Bucknell in the 400 free relay, the Bison fell just short of a comeback.
The Orange and Blue will be back in action next Saturday, Feb. 3, when the team will play host to the Bison Invitational in Kinney Natatorium, beginning at noon.
