Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Swimming and Diving Places 10 on All-Patriot League Team
2/26/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 26, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Ten members of the Bucknell women's swimming and diving team earned All-Patriot League honors based on their performances at last week's Patriot League Championships. Bucknell's 10 selections were second-most in the league, behind only champion Navy, which had 12 student-athletes honored.
The Bison, who finished second at the championship meet, beating out two-time defending champion Colgate, claimed four First Team All-Patriot League picks in seniors Courtney Warren (Montour Falls, N.Y./Watkins Glen) and Lauren Russell (Lower Burrell, Pa./Lower Burrell), as well as juniors Molly Goebel (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) and Macey Keath (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest).
Bison named to the second team included senior Abigail Atkinson (Newtown, Conn./Newtown), senior Rebecca Bersani (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport), sophomore Jamie Chakany (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny), senior Allison FitzPatrick (Berwyn, Pa./Episcopal Academy), and freshmen Elizabeth Porcellio (Fairport, N.Y./Penfield) and Kelly Purcell (Barnesville, Pa./Mahanoy Area).
Bucknell's four first-team selections marked its most since 2008, while its 10 overall honorees were its most since 2007.
Each of the All-Patriot League teams is comprised of 18 student-athletes, although this year's second team had 20 due to ties. First-team status is automatically awarded to competitors who earn a first-place finish at the championship meet. The remaining first-team slots are filled by student-athletes with the highest remaining individual point totals from the meet. Second-team status is automatically given to all second-place finishers who do not otherwise have enough points to move up to the first team. The remaining second-team slots are then filled by competitors with the highest remaining point totals.
Warren was a first-team selection thanks to her first-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke. It was the second time in three years she won the event, and she is Bucknell's only individual winner over the last four years. Warren, who broke her own school record in the 100 back and finished tied for seventh in the Patriot League with 50 individual points, is a four-time All-League choice, landing on the first team in 2008 and 2010 and the second team in 2007 and 2009.
Goebel, Keath and Russell each earned first-team status based on point totals as each registered three top-five finishes during the three-day meet. All three veterans also recorded a second-place showing with Goebel's coming in the 50 free, Russell's in the 200 breast and Keath's in the 200 back. Russell has now been a member of the first team three straight years, while Keath has been on it each of the last two years. Goebel made her first appearance on the first team after back-to-back second-team citations.
Bersani earned second-team honors for the fourth straight year after placing sixth in three-meter diving and third in one-meter diving. She was joined by fellow diver FitzPatrick, who earned her first career All-League honor after a pair of top-four finishes. Chakany grabbed a second-team certificate for the second straight year after earning points in three different freestyle events, while Atkinson was named All-League for the second straight year. Last year the senior was on the first team.
Porcellio and Purcell combined to score 60 points toward the Bison team total in their first championship meet.
Bucknell's runner-up finish was its highest showing at the Patriot League Championships since a second-place showing in 2007. The Bison won four consecutive titles from 2003 to 2006.
Bucknell's All-Patriot League Selections (previous All-League selections)
First Team
Molly Goebel (2008 - 2nd; 2009 - 2nd)
Macey Keath (2009 - 1st)
Lauren Russell (2008 - 1st; 2009 - 1st)
Courtney Warren (2007 - 2nd; 2008 - 1st; 2009 - 2nd)
Second Team
Abigail Atkinson (2009 - 1st)
Rebecca Bersani (2007 - 2nd; 2008 - 2nd; 2009 - 2nd)
Jamie Chakany (2009 - 2nd)
Allison FitzPatrick
Elizabeth Porcellio
Kelly Purcell
