Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lafayette
Bucknell Men's Swimming and Diving Wins First Home Meet of Year, 186-112 Over Lafayette
11/10/2012 7:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Nov. 10, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Junior Mike Nicholson added three more individual victories to his season total and the Bucknell men's swimming and diving won 14 of 16 events overall as the Bison opened their 2012-13 home campaign with a 186-112 victory over Lafayette Saturday afternoon at Kinney Natatorium. The meet was originally scheduled to be part of a quad meet last Saturday, but the Leopards had to reschedule in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
Nicholson captured first place in the 1,000 free, 100 breast and 200 back on Saturday, giving him 10 first-place showings in 12 individual races this season. Nicholson set personal bests in both the 100 breast (58.22) and 200 back (1:56.05), two events he doesn't usually swim. Additionally, he won the 1,000 free by 22.46 seconds over second-place teammate Will Rappaport. Overall, Nicholson won his three events by 25.60 seconds. He has not finished lower than second place all season.
Bucknell (3-2, 2-1 Patriot League) had plenty of depth in the meet as it swept the top three spots in an event six times (1,000 free - Nicholson, Rappaport, Jeff Shanley; 50 free - Chris Ortiz, Bryce Suchomel, JT Nangle; 100 free - Suchomel, Steve Grune, Daniel Wallace; 200 back - Nicholson, Billy Krause, Erik Heinemann; 200 IM - Christian Treat, Cameron James, Tim Perley; 400 free relay). The Bison swam the 200 IM and 400 free relay as exhibitions, so their finishes didn't go in the official results, but Bucknell student-athletes had the fastest times in those events.
Matt Hadley (100 back, 500 free) and Treat (200 free, 200 IM) joined Nicholson on the list of double-winners. Krause (200 fly), Ortiz (50 free), Suchomel (100 free), Trevor Reitz (100 fly) and Tyler Wenzel (one-meter diving) posted one victory apiece.
Wenzel's victory in the one-meter diving competition came with a score of 248.25. That kept him sixth in the Bison record books, but improved on his previous career best by 2.95. Patrick Alverman was third in the diving standings with a score of 238.35, moving him up to seventh in program history. Wenzel went on to finish second off the three-meter board, while Alverman was third off the higher board.
Bucknell will be back home again next weekend when it hosts the Bucknell Invitational Nov. 16-18 at Kinney Natatorium. Prelims each day will begin at 10 a.m., while the finals will commence at 6 p.m. each evening.
