Bucknell University Athletics
2007 Swimming & Diving Patriot League Championships
2/13/2007 7:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 13, 2007
Day One - Friday, Feb. 16, 2007
Trials: 10:30 a.m. - 500 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free
Diving Trials: 12:30 p.m. - Three-Meter (M); 2:30 p.m. - One-Meter (W)
Finals: 6 p.m. - 200 Free Relay, 500 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free, Three-Meter Dive (M), 400 Medley Relay
Women's 200 Free Relay
In the previous 16 Patriot League Championships, Bucknell has won the 200 free relay six times, including two of the last four years. The Bison took third in the event last season with the third-fastest time in school history (1:35.50). The team of freshman Megan Mongan, senior Katherine Munson, junior Kristen Skroski and senior Rebecca Scheffter hold the top time of the season in the event for the Orange and Blue, 1:38.35. Both Munson and Scheffter swam the event at the 2006 league meet. Colgate claimed the top spot in the event last season, setting a PL Championship meet record.
Men's 200 Freestyle Relay
The Bison men have won the 200 free relay on five occasions, including three straight from 1999-2000. Lately, however, Navy has dominated the event after claiming the top spot in each of the last three league meets. Junior John Peterman, junior Grant Steadman, sophomore Mark Kawczenski and freshman Daniel Fletcher collectively hold the fastest time in the event on the year for Bucknell, 1:26.73.
Women's 500 Freestyle
Two members of the Orange and Blue who finished in the top eight in the 500 free last year, will once again look to score points for the Bison in this event. Senior Carlyn Donley, who took third last season, and sophomore Ally St. Claire, who finished seventh, will look to lead a Bucknell contingent that also includes junior Kristen Skroski. Skroski holds the top time in the event by a Bison this season at 5:09.44. Two-time 500 free champion Meghan Thiel of American will be gunning for her third in a row as she is the meet record holder in this event.
Men's 500 Freestyle
At the last year's Patriot League championship, 2006 Bucknell graduate Todd Bauer, shattered a 20-year-old school record in the 500 free preliminaries and went on to take fourth in the finals. This season a younger corps of swimmers will be looking to score for the Bison. Freshman Luke Trafton leads the pack with a team season-best time of 4:45.94. Among the others competing in the 500 free for the Orange and Blue is Chris Amato who finished seventh in the event last season. Navy's Danny Flemming will attempt to defend his 2006 title.
Women's 200 Individual Medley
Bucknell's returning scorers from the 200 IM last season, seniors Nikki Woodward and Laura Goeller, who took fifth and seventh, respectively, will not be competing in the event this year. Instead, five freshman and two sophomores will hope to rack up points for the Bison. Freshman Lauren Russell holds the top time for the Orange and Blue at 2:10.90. Emily Murphy of Colgate, who is seeded fifth, will vie for her second consecutive 200 IM crown.
Men's 200 Individual Medley
The Bison did not have any representation in the top eight in the 200 IM at the 2006 league meet, but hope that will change in 2007. Junior Theo Leriotis is the top-seeded swimmer for Bucknell with a time of 2:00.61. American's Steven Brennan was last year's champion.
Women's 50 Freestyle
Prior to last season's first place finish by Colgate senior Chrissy Zaika in the 50 free, the Orange and Blue had dominated the event with four straight first-place showings, seven all-time. Senior Rebecca Scheffter, who holds the top time for the Bison (24.69) this season, won the event as a sophomore and was the runner-up in 2006.
Men's 50 Freestyle
Bucknell placed three swimmers in the top-eight scoring spots in the 50 free in 2006 and all three return to compete in the event this year. Junior Grant Steadman was third in the event as a sophomore, while Mark Kawczenski was sixth and John Peterman seventh. Peterman holds the team-season best time for the Bison in 2006-07 at 21.68. The Patriot league will crown a new 50 free champion as last year's winner, Joe Smutz of Navy, graduated in 2006.
Men's Three-meter Diving (6 dives)
In three-meter diving, Navy's Kevin Teague will be looking to finish out his career with the Mids having never finished lower than first in three-meter diving at the PL Championships. Adam Freeman, who graduated in 2006, was the top finisher for the Bison in the three-meter dive last season with a seventh-place showing. Sophomores Jeff Manning, Greg Zavoluk and freshman Matt Traver will represent Bucknell on the boards this year. Manning is the top-seeded Bison diver with a season-best score of 270.90.
Women's 400 Medley Relay
Bucknell has won the 400 medley relay seven times, with the last title coming in 2005. The Bison were third in the event last season with the third-fastest time in program history (3:52.07). The team of freshman Courtney Warren, sophomore Kelly Morris, senior Katherine Munson and senior Rebecca Scheffter holds Bucknell's best time of the year at 3:59.06. Colgate took first in the event last year with meet record time of 3:47.51.
Men's 400 Medley Relay
The Bison will look to improve upon their fourth-place finish in the 400 medley relay from 2006 where the squad swam the third-quickest time in school history. Bucknell has won this event only once, back in 1993. Sophomore Mark Kawczenski, junior Bradford Bennett, Senior Matt Crandell, and junior Grant Steadman posted the fastest time by a Bison relay this season, 3:29.61. Navy has taken first in the event two of the last three years.
