Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Swimming and Diving Set to Face Columbia and Army This Weekend
1/17/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Jan. 17, 2008
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell swimming and diving teams have a busy weekend ahead of them as the squads will compete at home for the final time this season, tomorrow, Jan. 18, taking on Columbia at 5 p.m., in Kinney Natatorium. Then on Saturday, The Bison will follow up by traveling to Army for a Patriot League dual, that is set to begin at 1 p.m. Friday's meet will also mark Senior Day for the members of the Orange and Blue who are a part of the Class of 2008.
BISON SWIMMING AND DIVING NOTEBOOK
Against the Lions
- Bucknell's women are 0-2 against Columbia (5-1, 2-1 Ivy) since first facing the Lions in 2006. Last season, the Bison dropped a 187.5-109.5 decision to Columbia in New York, N.Y.
- The Bison men are 0-3 versus the Lions (2-3, 0-3 Ivy) in a series that began in 2005. Bucknell suffered a 150-92 setback at Columbia in the last meeting between the squads, which was Jan. 20, 2007.
Against the Black Knights
- Bucknell's women have won the last six meetings with Army (3-4, 1-1 PL) and lead the all-time series, which began in 1981, by a 10-4 margin. Last season, the squad collected a 215-85 victory over the Black Knights in Lewisburg.
- The Bison men carry a 2-19 all-time record against Army (3-3, 1-1 PL) into Saturday's action. The Orange and Blue will be looking to defeat the Black Knights for the first time since the 1974-75 season. In 2006-07, Bucknell fell to Army at home, 191-109.
Top Performances for the Bison Women Against Colgate
- Sophomore Abigail Atkinson (Newtown, Conn./Newtown) won the 200 back and placed third in both the 100 back and the 200 IM last Saturday at Colgate. On the season, she has a total of four wins and two runner-up showings in the backstroke events (50, 100 and 200) combined.
- Freshman Molly Goebel (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) won the 50 free and scored in both the 100 free and the 100 fly. She previously took first in the event against UMBC and was the runner-up at Duquesne. She also has a win in the 100 fly to her credit, which came against the Dukes back on Nov. 3.
- Freshman Macey Keath (Lebanon, Conn./New Canaan) took first in the 200 breast and also scored in the 100 breast (5th). She has two additional first-place finishes on the year, winning both the 100 and 200 breast at Duquesne. She was the runner-up in the 400 IM against UMBC and then again at the Patriot League quad meet.
- Freshman Sinead O'Dwyer (Green River, Wyo./The Peddie School (N.J.)) was the runner-up in the 200 back, her best finish of the season in the event. She also scored in the 100 back (5th).
- Sophomore Sarah Pease (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin Senior High) claimed second in the 200 fly and scored in the 100 fly (5th). The runner-up performance was her best finish of the season in any event since the first meet of the year when she was second in the 50 fly against UMBC.
- Senior Kristen Skroski (North Haven, Conn./Hopkins) took second in two events, the 500 and 1,000 free. On the season, Skroski has been the runner-up in both events three times. She also has a win in the 200 free, which came versus UMBC.
- Sophomore Courtney Warren (Montour Falls, N.Y./Watkins Glen) won the 100 back for the second time this season. Her first win came in the quad meet at Navy, while she took home a runner-up finish at the Bucknell Trials/Finals Invitational.
- Sophomore Rebecca Bersani (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) and sophomore Allie FitzPatrick (Berwyn, Pa./Episcopal Academy) each won a diving event. Bersani placed first on the three-meter board and FitzPatrick posted the top score in the one-meter competition. Bersani picked up her third win overall on the year and has finished no lower than third on either board in her sophomore campaign. FitzPatrick's win was her first of her collegiate career.
Top Performers for the Men Against Colgate
- Senior Bradford Bennett (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) won the 100 breast and scored in the 200 breast (3rd). He has finished first in the 100 breast twice this season and claimed second once.
- Sophomore Brett Carey (West Chester, Pa./Malvern Prep) placed second in the 200 breast and third in the 200 breast. Earlier this season, he was the runner-up in the 200 breast in the quad meet at Navy.
- Freshman Gonzalo DeLeon (Ringwood, N.J./Lakeland Regional) placed first in the 200 back and was third in the 100 back. He has two individual wins on the year, both coming in the 200 back. He has totaled three runner-up finishes, as well, in the 100 back (twice) and the 200 back (once).
- Sophomore Daniel Fletcher (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) posted the top time in both the 200 free and the 200 IM while registering a runner-up finish in the 100 free. He also won the 200 free against UMBC.
- Junior Mark Kawczenski (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Hanover Area) was victorious in the 100 back last Saturday, his second win of the year in the event. He has notched scoring finishes in the 100 back in every meet thus far.
- Sophomore David Iselin (Potomac, Md./Churchill) was the runner-up in both the 200 back and the 1,000 free. He previously collected a second-place showing in the 200 back at Duquesne.
- Senior Joseph Metcalf (Knoxville, Tenn./Philips Exeter Academy (N.H.)) finished first in the 200 breast and second in the 100 breast. In total, he has six individual wins on the season coming in the 50 breast (1), the 100 breast (1) and the 200 breast (4).
- Senior John Peterman (Conestoga, Pa./Penn Manor) picked up two wins last Saturday, in the 50 and 100 free, while placing third in the 200 free. He was previously a double-winner at Duquesne (50 free and 100 free) and has totaled five runner-up finishes on the year between the 50, 100 and 200 free.
- Senior Grant Steadman (Richmond, Va./Collegiate) finished second in the 50 free and third in the 100 free. Earlier in the season, he picked up two wins against UMBC, in the 50 and 100 free.
- Sophomore Luke Trafton (Bath, Maine/Morse) scored in all three of his events in the win over the Raiders, taking first in the 1,000 free, second in the 200 fly and third in the 500 free. He has five individual wins on the year across four events.
- Junior Jeffrey Manning (Bringhurst, Ind./Carroll Jr./Sr. High) won both the one-meter and three-meter competitions last weekend and was previously the runner-up on both boards at the Bucknell Trials/Finals Invitational, while collecting two wins against UMBC.
On the Bison Women in 2007-08
- Current Record: (2-3, 2-2 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 at 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. To begin 2008, Bucknell dropped its Patriot League dual at Colgate by a 174-124 margin on Jan. 12.
On the Bison Men in 2007-08
- Current Record (4-1, 3-1 PL)
- The Bison began the 2007-08 campaign with a non-scored dual against UMBC on Oct. 6, and held 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 a quad meet with two wins and one loss, defeating American, 236-57, and Lafayette, 202-92, but falling to host Navy, 159-125. On Nov. 18, the Bison placed second out of the four squads that 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. Most recently on Jan. 12, Bucknell started off the New Year with a 192-96 victory over Colgate in Hamilton, N.Y.
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); one-meter, six dives (8th, 225.79)
- Allison FitzPatrick: one-meter, six optionals (4th, 236.55); three-meter, six optionals (4th, 241.70); one-meter, six dives (10th, 217.87)
- 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)
- Jeffrey Manning: one meter, six dives (9th, 245.47)
- 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
- The Bison will next travel to Bethlehem, Pa., to take on Lehigh at 1 p.m. on Jan. 26.
