Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Swimming and Diving Teams Travel to La Salle Saturday for Dual Meet
11/30/2011 7:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Nov. 30, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bison men's and women's swimming and diving teams will travel to Philadelphia, Pa., to face La Salle this Saturday at 12 p.m., one hour earlier than the initially published start time. The Bucknell men's team owns a 14-20 all-time record against La Salle, including a 150-144 home loss last season. The Bison women's squad holds a 5-8 all-time mark against La Salle after defeating the Explorers 198-102 last season at Kinney Natatorium.
The Bison men (3-1, 2-1 Patriot League) are coming off a winning effort in the Bucknell Invitational. Their 1,729.5 points were 600 points ahead of second-place Delaware and 659.5 ahead of third-place La Salle. During the event, sophomore Mike Nicholson broke the Bucknell school record in the 200 fly by 1.73 seconds. Nicholson finished first in the 200 IM, 400 IM, 200 fly, and was a part of the first-place 400 medley relay team, helping him earn the Susquehanna Valley Limousine Bison Athlete of the Week honor.
The Bucknell women's team (3-1, 2-1 Patriot League) is coming off an impressive showing at the Bucknell Invitational. The women finished first with 1,351 points in a seven-team field. La Salle finished sixth in the tightly packed final standings with 950 points. Bison sophomore Kelly Pontecorvo set school records in the 1,000 and 1,650 free during the event. She also finished second in the 500 free. The team's younger swimmers were crucial in securing a Bison victory as the squad's top finisher in each of the final day's seven events was a freshman or sophomore.
The La Salle men's team enters Saturday's meet with a 2-3 record on the season. It recently split a tri-meet against Delaware and Rider, defeating the Broncs, but losing to the Blue Hens. The team is 2-1 at home and is coming off the third-place finish two weeks ago at the Bucknell Invitational. Senior Austin Thomas won the 100 free, 100 fly, and 50 free at the meet, breaking two school records in the process. Junior Blase Szyszko won the 100 breast and senior Jordan Baker won the three-meter dive.
The La Salle women's squad is currently 4-2 and has claimed four of its last five decisions after losing its first meet in late October. The team is 1-2 at home and is coming off a sixth-place finish at the Bison Invitational. Despite finishing second-to-last in the Bison Invitational, there were several bright spots for the Explorers. Junior Elizabeth Jordan won the 100 free while senior Laurie McLaughlin won the one-meter dive. Other top-five finishers included Jessica Simunek who finished second in the 200 breast, Katie Snee who placed third in the 100 free, and swimmers Greta Reichert and Colleen Larkin who finished third and fifth, respectively, in the 1650 free.
With a Bison men's win this weekend, Bucknell sixth-year head coach Dan Schinnerer will tie Lynn Kachmarik for fourth on Bucknell's all-time men's wins list with 31. A victory would put him just one more win away from tying Jerry Foley for third all-time in program history. Schinnerer is currently 30-21 as frontman for the Bucknell men and 31-20-1 leading the women.
While the rest of the Bison will be gearing up for Saturday's meet, Emily Wright, Mike Nicholson, and Matthew Segar will be participating in the USA Swimming's Winter Nationals in Atlanta, Ga., this week. The event runs Thursday, Dec. 1, through Saturday, Dec. 3, but the Bucknell trio will be in action only the first two days. Wright will compete in the 50 free, Nicholson will race in the 200 IM and 400 IM, and Segar will swim in the 200 free and 400 free. The event will be contested in long course meters to provide the swimmers the opportunity to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trial.
The Bison will be idle for over a month after racing at La Salle. Their next meet will take them to Hamilton, N.Y., for a dual meet at Patriot League rival Colgate on Jan. 11 at 3 p.m.
