Women's Swim & Dive Welcomes 10 Newcomers in 2019-20

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Head coach Dan Schinnerer announced Friday that 10 incoming freshmen are set to join the Bucknell women's swimming & diving team.

"We are excited to have this group join our team," Schinnerer said. "It is a larger class, and we believe they have the ability to round out our team's depth, particularly in the sprint freestyle and breaststroke events. While we graduated a talented senior class in 2019, we believe this group will help our team continue on its improvement trajectory of the last two seasons."

The incoming freshmen hail from six different states: Pennsylvania (4), Connecticut (2), Florida, Maryland, New Jersey and New York. Every stroke group is represented in the class, which also includes two divers.

The Bison are coming off a strong 2018-19 campaign in which they placed third at both the Patriot League and ECAC Championships. Their third-place showing at the Patriot League Championships was their best since 2015, when they were the runners-up; they were bolstered by eight medal-winning performances, including an individual title by rising sophomore Maddie Hartigan in the 1,650 freestyle.

In addition, Bucknell finished dual competition with an impressive 8-1 (6-1 Patriot League) record. With their Senior Day triumph over rival Lehigh, the Bison reached the eight-win threshold for the first time since the 2013-14 campaign, when they went 8-2 (6-0 Patriot League). They graduated six seniors in 2019, including All-Patriot League honorees Julie Byrne, Abigail Rosenberg and Lindsay Smalec.

Jamilie Atiyeh
Diving, Schnecksville, Pa., Allentown Central Catholic High School

Before Bucknell: Dove for Allentown Central Catholic High School … three-time All-State selection … three-time all-district first team honoree … won district titles in 2019, 2018 and 2017 … placed at the state championship meet three times, winning a bronze medal in 2019, taking fifth in 2018 and finishing eighth in 2017 … dove for the Lehigh Diving Club and Vault Assault … also competed for Allentown Central Catholic High School's track & field team … graduated with a school record in the pole vault (11-7).

Personal: Jamilie Elizabeth Atiyeh … born September 14, 2000 in Allentown, Pennsylvania … daughter of Dennis and Laurie Atiyeh … has seven older siblings: Adam, Amie, Alex, Arianne, Anna, Dennis and Allora … six siblings competed in collegiate sports … Adam wrestled at Pitt, Alex played football at Boston College and Kutztown University, Arianne played soccer at St. Francis, Anna played volleyball at La Salle, Dennis wrestled at Cornell and Allora was a member of Cornell's rowing team.

Catherine Craig
Breaststroke/IM, Mansfield, Pa., Notre Dame High School (N.Y.)

Before Bucknell: Swam for Notre Dame High School (N.Y.) … six-time New York State Federation finalist with two top-10 finishes in the 100 breaststroke (5th in 2018 & 7th in 2017) … graduated as the Section 4-Class C and IAC record holder in the 100 breaststroke … six-time individual sectional champion … qualified for the USA Swimming Winter Junior Nationals in the 200 breaststroke … USA Swimming Futures finalist in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes … qualified for Futures in the women's open 400 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay … New York Swimming Scholar-Athlete … twice served as team captain … also competed for Thrashers Aquatics (USA Swim) and United Southern Tier Aquatics (AAU).

Personal: Catherine Kelly Craig … born June 8, 2001 in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania … daughter of Francis and Kathleen Craig … has an older sister, Molly, who is a member of the Williams College swimming & diving team's class of 2021.

Sophia Donati
Freestyle, Pittsburgh, Pa., Mt. Lebanon High School

Before Bucknell: Swam for Mt. Lebanon High School, helping team win three section titles and twice finish as WPIAL runner-up … All-American … 2019 Pennsylvania State 200 medley relay champion … WPIAL champion … Honor of the Game Award winner … graduated with a school record in the 500 freestyle … member of the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay teams that set new Mt. Lebanon standards … 400 freestyle relay team also broke the WPIAL record … also competed for the Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club.

Personal: Sophia Marrie Donati … born July 17, 2001 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania … daughter of Thomas and Victoria Donati … has one younger brother: Tanner … father swam at Westminster College and was the head coach at Mt. Lebanon High School … mother swam at the University of Pittsburgh.

Naomi Douek
Diving, Bethesda, Md., Walt Whitman High School

Megan Phelan
Backstroke, Fairfield, Conn., Fairfield Ludlowe High School

Before Bucknell: Swam for Fairfield Ludlowe High School … two-time All-State honoree … three-time All-FCAIC selection … FCAIC Student-Athlete of the Year … member of a 200 freestyle relay team that was considered for All-America laurels after winning the State Opens and making the Class LL and FCAIC finals … graduated with a school record in the 100 backstroke … member of the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay teams that set new Fairfield Ludlowe standards … two-time Connecticut Swimming Scholar-Athlete … was ranked in the top 20 in the country in the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays … two-time sectional finalist … won 200 medley relay at sectionals … was ranked in the top 16 in the state in freestyle and backstroke events … broke club team records in the 200 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 400 freestyle relay and 800 freestyle relay.

Personal: Megan Kerry Phelan … born March 15, 2001 in Paget, Bermuda … daughter of Christopher and Colleen Phelan … has two siblings: Katherine and Patrick … father wrestled at Duke University.

Alexandra Ritorto
Sprint Freestyle/Breaststroke, Eatontown, N.J., Ocean Township High School

Before Bucknell: Swam for Ocean Township High School … New Jersey Meet of Champions 'A' finalist … 2019 All-Shore Team … served as team captain … graduated with Ocean Township records in the 50 and 100 freestyles … won the 100 breaststroke at the 2018 New Jersey Swimming Senior Championships … also swam for the Central Jersey Aquatic Club.

Personal: Alexandra Jeanne Ritorto … born August 21, 2001 in 2001 in Long Branch, New Jersey … daughter of Dominick Ritorto and Theo Koufidakis … has one younger sister: Victoria.

Jacqueline Rounsavill
Sprint Freestyle/Breaststroke, Newtown, Pa., Council Rock North High School

Before Bucknell: Swam for Council Rock North High School, helping team win four-straight Suburban One League National Conference titles … NISCA All-American in the 200 medley relay (2019 & 2018) and 200 freestyle relay (2019 & 2018) … PIAA Class AAA All-State Team in the 50 freestyle (2018), 200 medley relay (2018) and 200 freestyle relay (2019 & 2018) … PIAA District One Class AAA All-District I First Team in the 50 freestyle (2019 & 2018), 100 breaststroke (2018), 200 medley relay (2019 & 2018) and 200 freestyle relay (2019 & 2018) … PIAA District One Class AAA All-District I Honorable Mention in the 50 Freestyle (2017 & 2016) … four-time Suburban One League National Conference Champion in the 50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 200 medley Relay and 200 freestyle relay (2016-19) … Suburban One League National Conference First-Team Selection in the 50 freestyle (2016-19),100 breaststroke (2017-19), 200 medley relay (2016-19) and 200 freestyle relay (2017-19) … four-time Bucks County Courier Times Golden Team First Team selection (2016-19) … served as team captain as a junior and senior … named team MVP as a freshman and junior … graduated with school and pool records in the 50 freestyle (23.91) and 100 breaststroke (1:05.59) … member of the 200 medley relay (1:43.79) and 200 freestyle relay (1:35.22) teams that set new Council Rock North standards … also swam for the George School Aquatics Club … ran for Council Rock North High School's track & field team … competed at the Penn Relays for nine-straight seasons, most notably winning an age-group relay title.

Personal: Jacqueline Maria Rounsavill … born October 21, 2000 in Langhorne, Pennsylvania … daughter of Brian and Maria Rounsavill … has an older sister, Nicole, who is a member of the Colgate softball team's class of 2020.

Molly See
Butterfly, Lighthouse Point, Fla., Pine Crest School

Before Bucknell: Swam for Pine Crest School since eighth grade, helping team win five regional and district titles and finish as the state runner-up four times … served as team captain as a senior … selected as team's rookie of the year as an eighth grader … also swam for Pine Crest Swimming, which was the USA Swimming Futures Championships' runner-up in 2017.

Personal: Molly Nicole See … born October 16, 2000 in Abington, Pennsylvania … daughter of Aaron and Allyson See … has two siblings: Emily and Noah … father swam and mother played soccer at Brandeis University.

Abigail Thrall
Distance Freestyle/IM, Windsor, Conn., Granby Memorial High School

Before Bucknell: Swam for WHAT Swimming, which was awarded a bronze medal as part of USA Swimming's National Club Excellence Program … was ranked among Connecticut's top 16 swimmers since 2010 … Connecticut Swimming Scholar-Athlete … clocked USA Swimming Futures cut times in the 200 and 400 IMs … competed at the ISCA Junior National Championship … attended Granby Memorial High School but did not compete for swimming team.

Personal: Abigail Elizabeth Thrall … born April 20, 2001 in Hartford, Connecticut … daughter of Spencer and Sarah Thrall … has four younger siblings: Jillian, Maggie, Lucy and Oliver … is a 13th-generation farmer who grew up on family farm in Windsor, Connecticut … aspires to coach a swimming & diving team.

Sabrina Vumbacco
Breaststroke/Butterfly/IM, Port Chester, N.Y., Rye Country Day School

Before Bucknell: Swam for the Badger Swim Club … versatile swimmer raced in freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and IM events … was a finalist in three events at the 2019 MR LIAC Speedo Long Island Challenge … was a finalist in five events at the 2016 Eastern Zone Championships … attended Rye Country Day School, which did not offer swimming.

Personal: Sabrina Sue Vumbacco … born May 31, 2001 in White Plains, New York … daughter of Scott and Susan Vumbacco … has two siblings: Sarah and Stephen.

Bucknell University Athletics

Women's Swim & Dive Welcomes 10 Newcomers in 2019-20

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