Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Swimming and Diving Heads to Hamilton for Patriot League Dual Against Colgate
1/11/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Jan. 11, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - After being idle from competition for over a month, the Bucknell swimming and diving teams will begin 2008 with a Patriot League dual-meet at Colgate tomorrow, Jan. 12, at 1 p.m. In the league's preseason poll, the Bison men and women were both picked third. The Raiders were selected second on the women's side and fourth for the men.
BISON SWIMMING AND DIVING NOTEBOOK
Against the Raiders
- Bucknell's women lead the all time series with Colgate (3-3, 1-1 PL) by a 14-3 margin. However, the Raiders have taken the last two meetings, most recently collecting a 158-142 win in Lewisburg last season.
- The Bison men are 23-9 all-time against the Raiders (0-5, 0-1 PL) since the series began in 1964 and have won the last 16 meetings between the squads, dating back to the 1990-91 season.
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. Then at Princeton's Big Al Open, Atkinson set three program top-10 marks, in the 100 back, 200 back and 200 breast, qualifying for the finals in all three events.
- 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. At the Trials/Finals Invitational, she placed fourth in the 50 free and qualified for the "A" final in the 100 free (8th). Then at the Big Al Open, she improved to fifth on Bucknell's 50 free top-10 list and qualified for the finals in that event.
- 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. She moved into Bucknell's top-10 for the 200 breast at the Big Al Open and qualified for the finals in three events at that meet (100 breast, 200 breast and 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 has 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. At the Big Al Open, Morris qualified for the finals in the 100 and 200 breast, placing 14th and 15th, respectively. - 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. Skroski had a career weekend at the Big Al Open, setting two career bests in the 200 and 500 free, good for fourth all-time on both Bison top-10 lists. She qualified for the finals in both events, placing 19th and 20th, respectively.
- 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. At the Big Al Open, Warren placed 14th in the 100 back final and 22nd in the 200.
- 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 a second and a third-place showing in three-meter diving.
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. At the Big Al Open, Kawczenski qualified for the finals in the 100 back, 200 back and the 50 free, placing fifth, 23rd and 20th, respectively.
- 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. He was a finalist in both the 200 free (22nd) and the 500 free (21st) at the Big Al Open and took 17th in the 1,650 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 both the Trials/Finals Invitational and the Big Al Open.
- 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. Trafton led the Bison men at the Big Al Open as he reached the finals in the 200 free (16th) the 500 free (12th) and the 400 IM (13th), while also taking 12th in the 1,650 free. As an exhibition swimmer in the 200 fly, Trafton posted the 10th-fastest time in Bison history.
- 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). At the three-day Big Al Open, the Bison scored 55 team points and placed 11th.
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). At the Big Al Open, the Bison finished seventh with 86 points.
New Top-10 Marks Set in 2007-08
- Abigail Atkinson: 100 back (8th, 59.20), 200 back (10th, 2:08.31), 200 breast (9th, 2:28.22)
- Rebecca Bersani: one-meter, six optionals (school record, 254.90), three-meter, six optionals (3rd, 248.95)
- Allison FitzPatrick: one-meter, six optionals (4th, 236.55), three-meter, six optionals (4th, 241.70)
- Molly Goebel: 50 free (5th, 24.04), 100 free (5th, 52.82)
- Macey Keath: 100 breast (7th, 1:07.75), 200 breast (6th, 2:25.43)
- Megan Mongan: 100 fly (9th, 58.99)
- Kristen Skroski: 200 free (4th, 1:53.23), 500 free (4th, 5:00.98)
- Goebel, Skroski, Horstmann, Atkinson: 800 free relay (7th, 7:45.80)
- Luke Trafton: 200 fly (10th, 1:55.70)
- Andrew Vogl: one-meter, six optionals (10th, 160.30)
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
- Bucknell will close out the home portion of its 2007-08 schedule with a dual-meet against Columbia next Friday, Jan. 18, beginning at 5 p.m. in Kinney Natatorium.
