Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Swimming and Diving Travels to Princeton This Weekend for Big Al Open
11/29/2007 7:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Nov. 29, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Following a week off for the Thanksgiving holiday, the Bucknell swimming and diving teams will be back in action this Friday, Nov. 30, as the squads will begin competing in Princeton's three-day Big Al Open, which is set to begin at 11 a.m. with the first of six sessions that will take place throughout the weekend. The Bison will be joined at the meet by some of the top teams from around the country as the women's squad will face No. 26 Princeton, No. 11 Penn State, Brown, Columbia, Pittsburgh, Rider, Rutgers and Washington State. On the men's side, the Orange and Blue will take on Princeton, Brown, Columbia, Pittsburgh, Penn State and Rider.
BISON SWIMMING AND DIVING NOTEBOOK
More on the Big Al Open
- Live Results
- Weekend Schedule: Friday (11/30) - Prelims - 11 a.m., Finals - 7 p.m.; Saturday (12/1) - Prelims - 11 a.m., Finals - 7 p.m.; Saturday (12/2) - Prelims - 10 a.m., Finals - 6 p.m.
Leading the Way for Bucknell's Women
- Sophomore Abigail Atkinson (Newtown, Conn./Newtown) has two wins and a runner-up showing in the 100 backstroke this season, she has three top-three finishes in the 200 back as well, winning the event versus UMBC. At the Bucknell Trials/Finals Invitational, she qualified for the "A" final in the 200 IM (6th) and the 200 back (5th), while winning the "B" final of the 400 IM.
- Freshman Molly Goebel (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) broke into Bucknell's record book in the 50 free as she won the event against UMBC and moved into 10th in program history. Then at Duquesne on Nov. 3, she entered the Bison top-10 for the 100 free, recording a time of 52.82, good for fifth on the list, taking second in the meet in addition to finishing as the runner-up in the 50 free. Goebel has also recorded a win in the 100 fly. Most recently, at the Trials/Finals Invitational, she moved up to ninth all-time in the 50 free, placing fourth in that event at the meet and qualified for the "A" final in the 100 free (8th).
- Freshman Macey Keath (Lebanon, Conn./New Canaan) won both the 100 and 200 breast against Duquesne and also won the 200 breast in the Quad Meet at Navy. She also has two runner-up showings in the 400 IM to her credit. At the Bucknell Trials/Finals Invitational, she was seventh in the 100 breast, setting a program top-10 mark in prelims, seventh in the 200 breast and eighth in the 400 IM.
- Sophomore Megan Mongan (Malvern, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) has two individual wins on the year, coming in the 100 IM and 200 IM. She as been the runner-up on three occasions, twice in the 200 free and once in the 200 IM. At the Trials/Finals Invitational, she qualified for the "A" finals in three events--the 100 free (3rd), the 100 fly (4th) and the 200 IM (8th). Her time in the 100 fly landed her ninth in Bison history.
- Junior Kelly Morris (Metuchen, N.J./Metuchen) has finished in the top-three for the 100 and 200 breast four times this season, taking second in the 100 breast twice, while posting one second and one third-place finish in the 200 breast. She placed fifth in both events at the Trials/Finals Invitational.
- Sophomore Sarah Pease (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin Senior High) has come away with third in the 100 fly three times thus far on the year. She also took third in the 200 fly in the team's season opener against UMBC.
- Senior Kristin Skroski (North Haven, Conn./Hopkins) won the 200 free against UMBC and has recorded four second-place finishes on the year, two in the 500 free and two in the 1,000 free. At the Trials/Finals Invitational, she placed seventh in the 1,650 free and eighth in the 200 free.
- Sophomore Courtney Warren (Montour Falls, N.Y./Watkins Glen) has two wins on the season, which have come in the 50 back and the 100 back. She finished as the runner-up in the 100 back against UMBC and at the Trials/Finals Invitational.
- Sophomore Rebecca Bersani (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) leads Bucknell's diving contingent thus far. She captured wins on both the one-meter and three-meter boards at the Trials/Finals Invitational, setting a school three-meter record, while posting a personal best in one-meter diving. On the year, she also has two second-place finishes on the one-meter board, and has a second and a third-place showing in three-meter diving.
Underclassmen Start Strong for the Bison Women
- Out of 14 individual wins posted by the Bison women so far in 2007-08, 13 have been recorded by freshmen and sophomores.
Top Performers for the Men Thus Far
- Senior Bradford Bennett (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) won the 100 breast against Duquesne. He was the runner-up in both the 100 and 200 breast at the Trials/Finals Invitational and qualified for the "A" final in both the 200 IM (6th) and the 100 fly (8th). At the Trials/Finals Invitational, he was an "A" finalist in the 200 back (4th), the 100 back (5th), the 400 IM (7th) and the 200 fly (8th).
- Freshman Gonzalo DeLeon (Ringwood, N.J./Lakeland Regional) claimed his first individual win of his collegiate career against Duquesne in the 200 back. He also has posted two runner-up showings in the both the 200 back and the 100 back.
- Junior Mark Kawczenski (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Hanover Area) won the 50 back against UMBC and the 100 back against Duquesne. He took third in the 100 back in the Quad Meet at Navy and was second in the event at the Trials/Finals Invitational where he placed sixth in the 50 free, as well.
- Sophomore Ben Leboza (Green Oaks, Ill./Libertyville) was a double-winner at Duquesne, taking first in the 200 free and the 500 free. He finished third in the 200 free against UMBC and second in the 400 free in the team's Quad Meet at Navy. At the Trials/Finals Invitational, he captured fifth in the 500 free, was eighth in the 200 free and ninth in the 100 free.
- Senior Joseph Metcalf (Knoxville, Tenn./Philips Exeter Academy (N.H.)) has five individual wins on the season, three coming in the 200 breast. He also won the 50 and 100 breast against UMBC, took third in the 100 breast at Duquesne and was the runner-up in the event at the Quad Meet. He was a finalist in both the 200 breast and the 100 breast at the Trials/Finals Invitational, placing fifth and eighth, respectively.
- Senior John Peterman (Conestoga, Pa./Penn Manor) was a double-winner at Duquesne, claiming the top spot in both the 50 and 100 free after opening the season with three runner-up showings, which came in the 50, 100 and 200 free. At the Trials/Finals Invitational, he finished second in both the 50 free and the 200 free and took third in the 100 free.
- Senior Grant Steadman (Richmond, Va./Collegiate) won both the 50 and 100 free against UMBC. He finished third in the 50 free at Duquesne and won the "B" final in the event at the Trials/Finals Invitational, while also placing seventh in the 100 free.
- Sophomore Luke Trafton (Bath, Maine/Morse) has five individual wins on the year. He took first in the 200 fly and 1,000 free at Duquesne, won the 400 free at the Quad Meet and was the top finisher in both the 1,650 free and the 500 free. He has also been the runner-up in the 500 free twice and the 200 free once.
- Junior Jeffrey Manning (Bringhurst, Ind./Carroll Jr./Sr. High) leads Bucknell's divers. He won both the one-meter and three-meter competitions against UMBC and finished fourth in each event at the Quad Meet. At the Trials/Finals Invitational he took second on the one-meter board and tied for second on the three-meter board.
On the Bison Women in 2007-08
- Current Record: (2-2, 2-1 PL)
- After opening the season with a non-scored dual against UMBC on Oct. 6, in Kinney Natatorium. Bucknell held its annual Blue vs. Orange meet on Oct. 27. The Blue squad captured a narrow 126-123 victory. Then against Duquesne on Nov. 3, the Bison fell to the Dukes, 138-124. On Nov. 10, Bucknell picked up wins against American and Lafayette, but fell to Navy. The Bison defeated the Eagles, 223-71, and the Leopards, 170-130, while dropping a 163-137 decision to the Mids. At the Bucknell Trials/Finals Invitational, The Bison took third out of the five squads who competed in the weekend's action. With 722 points, the Orange and Blue finished ahead of Binghamton (289 points) and TCNJ (109), while coming in behind Towson (1294) and James Madison (841).
On the Bison Men in 2007-08
- Current Record (3-1, 2-1 PL)
- The Bison have competed three times at home, thus far, and twice on the road, opening with a non-scored dual against UMBC and an intrasquad Blue vs. Orange meet on Oct. 27. On Nov. 3, Bucknell picked up a 151-100 victory at Duquesne. On Nov. 10, in Annapolis, Md., the Orange and Blue came away from the day's action with two wins and one loss, defeating American, 236-57, and Lafayette, 202-92, but falling to host Navy, 159-125. Most recently on Nov. 18, the Bison placed second out of the four squads who competed in the Bucknell Trials/Finals Invitational. With 857.5 points, Bucknell finished ahead of Binghamton (763 points) and TCNJ (543.5 points), but behind Towson (1,294).
New Top-10 Marks Set in 2007-08
- Molly Goebel: 50 free (9th, 24.45), 100 free (5th, 52.82)
- Macey Keath: 100 breast (7th, 1:07.75)
- Megan Mongan: 100 fly (9th, 58.99)
- Rebecca Bersani: one-meter, six optionals (school record, 254.90), three-meter, six optionals (3rd, 248.95)
- Allison FitzPatrick: three-meter, six optionals (4th, 241.70)
- Andrew Vogl: one-meter, six optionals (10th, 134.05)
Honors and Rankings
- Patriot League Preseason Poll - Men: 3rd (74 points); Women: 3rd (77 points)
- Patriot League Female Diver of the Week: Rebecca Bersani (11/21/07)
Next Up
- The Bison will next travel to Hamilton, N.Y., for a Patriot League dual-meet against Colgate, which is set for 1 p.m. on Jan. 12.
