Saturday, February 19
Annapolis, Md.
6 p.m.
Bucknell University
at
Patriot League Championships Finals
Women's Swim & Dive Scores Runner-Up Finish at PL Championships
2/19/2022 9:58:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
The Bison take second for the 13th time in program history
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Bucknell women's swimming & diving team took second at the Patriot League Championships, which concluded on Saturday at Lejeune Hall.
The Bison were bolstered by winning 10 medals, with four coming on the fourth and final day of the meet to help them accumulate 577.5 points. In addition, the 400 freestyle relay team came up with a critical silver medal behind a school-record time to help its team edge Army West Point (570) for the runner-up position behind Navy (973.5).
Bucknell has now placed second at each of the past two Patriot League Championships contested. Overall, the Bison have finished in the runner-up spot 13 times in program history.
Maddie Hartigan and Sabrina Vumbacco's 1-2 finish in the 1,650 freestyle was one of Saturday's many highlights. Hartigan, who previously won gold in this event as a first year in 2019, outraced the field with a time of 16:37.48. Vumbacco was right behind her, clocking in at 16:38.74 to earn her first career silver medal.
Hartigan also teamed with Sophia Donati, Kayla Lichtner and Esme Hunter for silver in the 400 freestyle relay. Entering that race, Bucknell held a 3.5-point lead over Army West Point in the team standings. As the Bison quartet finished second to the Black Knights' fourth, they sealed their team's runner-up showing. Its time of 3:22.02 also broke a standard that had stood since the 2018 Patriot League Championships.
Abby Doss added a bronze medal in Saturday's 200 breaststroke behind an NCAA 'B' cut time of 2:13.56 to her silver in Friday's 400 IM; the Shamokin, Pa. product was joined on the 400-IM podium by junior Catherine Craig, who took third to capture her first Patriot League medal.
Hartigan will now graduate as an eight-time Patriot League individual medalist, having previously earned one gold in the 1,650 freestyle (2019), two silvers in the 500 freestyle (2020, 2019), one silver in the 1,650 freestyle (2020) and one bronze in the 200 freestyle (2020).
This year, Hartigan became the first Bison to win two gold medals at one championship meet since Emma Levendoski swept the backstroke races for the record fourth-straight time in 2016. In addition, Hartigan was a member of four career medal-winning relay teams, having captured bronze on 800 freestyle relay squads in both 2020 and 2019 before winning silver in this event and the 400 freestyle relay in 2022.
Notably, Hartigan tied Thomas for second among all swimmers by scoring 54.5 points at this year's championships. Navy's Sydney Harrington was the individual points champion with 60. Doss (t-12th, 47), Vumbacco (t-12th, 47) and Craig (14th, 44) also cracked the top 15 in overall point scorers.
Beyond their medal winners, four Bison qualified for Saturday's 'A' finals. Craig went fourth in the 200 breaststroke behind Bucknell's second-fastest time (2:14.23) while Hunter (200 backstroke) and Reggie Frias (3-meter dive) each went fifth. Frias's score of 271.20 was good for third in the Bison annals.
Donati placed sixth in the 100 freestyle. Notably, Bucknell had three divers beyond Frias score points, as Kate Gottwald, Gina Hinthorn and Meghan Catherwood all made 3-meter dive's 'B' finals.
Bucknell returns to action at the ECAC Championships, which will be held from Friday, Feb. 25 through Sunday, Feb. 27 at Lejeune Hall.
400 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Sophia Donati, Kayla Lichtner, Esme Hunter (3:22.02)
Additional Top-10 Times/Scores:
200 breaststroke – Catherine Craig (2:14.23) – 2nd in School History
3-meter dive – Reggie Frias (271.20) – 3rd in School History
200 backstroke – Esme Hunter (1:59.84) – 6th in School History (swam in prelims)
100 freestyle – Sophia Donati (51.23) – 8th in School History
Point Scorers:
First Place:
1,650 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (16.37.48)
Second Place:
1,650 freestyle – Sabrina Vumbacco (16:38.74)
400 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Sophia Donati, Kayla Lichtner, Esme Hunter (3:22.02)
Third Place:
200 breaststroke – Abby Doss (2:13.56)
Fourth Place:
200 breaststroke – Catherine Craig (2:14.23) – 2nd in School History
Fifth Place:
200 backstroke – Esme Hunter (2:00.82)
3-meter dive – Reggie Frias (271.20) – 3rd in School History
Sixth Place:
100 freestyle – Sophia Donati (51.23) – 8th in School History
Tenth Place:
1,650 freestyle – Caroline McGann (17:20.19)
3-meter dive – Kate Gottwald (251.70)
Eleventh Place:
200 butterfly – Alexis Faria (2:02.86)
Thirteenth Place:
100 freestyle – Kayla Lichtner (52.00)
200 butterfly – Skye Sunderhauf (2:04.16)
3-meter dive – Gina Hinthorn (229.20)
Fifteenth Place:
200 butterfly – Meagan Hathaway (2:05.03)
Sixteenth Place:
3-meter dive – Meghan Catherwood (213.60)
Overall School Records:
Wednesday, Feb. 16
200 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (1:47.29) (swam as lead-off leg of 800 freestyle relay)
200 medley relay – Esme Hunter, Abby Doss, Alexis Faria, Sophia Donati (1:41.95)
Thursday, Feb. 17
500 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (4:45.85)
Saturday, Feb. 19
400 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Sophia Donati, Kayla Lichtner, Esme Hunter (3:22.02)
Overall Medalists:
Gold:
Thursday, Feb. 17
500 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (4:45.85)
Saturday, Feb. 19
1,650 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (16.37.48)
Silver:
Wednesday, Feb. 16
800 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Kayla Lichtner, Caroline McGann, Sabrina Vumbacco (7:18.70)
Friday, Feb. 18
400 IM – Abby Doss (4:20.32)
Saturday, Feb. 19
1,650 freestyle – Sabrina Vumbacco (16:38.74)
400 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Sophia Donati, Kayla Lichtner, Esme Hunter (3:22.02)
Bronze:
Thursday, Feb. 17
500 freestyle – Sabrina Vumbacco (4:48.90)
Friday, Feb. 18
200 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (1:48.17)
400 IM – Catherine Craig (4:20.66)
Saturday, Feb. 19
200 breaststroke – Abby Doss (2:13.56)
The Bison were bolstered by winning 10 medals, with four coming on the fourth and final day of the meet to help them accumulate 577.5 points. In addition, the 400 freestyle relay team came up with a critical silver medal behind a school-record time to help its team edge Army West Point (570) for the runner-up position behind Navy (973.5).
Bucknell has now placed second at each of the past two Patriot League Championships contested. Overall, the Bison have finished in the runner-up spot 13 times in program history.
Maddie Hartigan and Sabrina Vumbacco's 1-2 finish in the 1,650 freestyle was one of Saturday's many highlights. Hartigan, who previously won gold in this event as a first year in 2019, outraced the field with a time of 16:37.48. Vumbacco was right behind her, clocking in at 16:38.74 to earn her first career silver medal.
Hartigan's golden showing in the 1,650 freestyle was her second of these championships; she previously tied Navy's Martina Thomas, a three-time NCAA qualifier, for first in Thursday's 200 freestyle behind a school-record time of 4:45.85. Vumbacco rounded out this year's 200-freestyle podium finishers, winning her second-straight bronze.𝘚𝘐𝘓𝘝𝘌𝘙 🥈 & 𝙂𝙊𝙇𝘿 🥇
— Bucknell Swim & Dive (@Bucknell_SWIMDV) February 20, 2022
Maddie Hartigan and Sabrina Vumbacco went 1-2 in the @PatriotLeague 1,650 freestyle!
🏊♀️#rayBucknell🏊♀️ pic.twitter.com/a4iUrMd0l5
Hartigan also teamed with Sophia Donati, Kayla Lichtner and Esme Hunter for silver in the 400 freestyle relay. Entering that race, Bucknell held a 3.5-point lead over Army West Point in the team standings. As the Bison quartet finished second to the Black Knights' fourth, they sealed their team's runner-up showing. Its time of 3:22.02 also broke a standard that had stood since the 2018 Patriot League Championships.
Abby Doss added a bronze medal in Saturday's 200 breaststroke behind an NCAA 'B' cut time of 2:13.56 to her silver in Friday's 400 IM; the Shamokin, Pa. product was joined on the 400-IM podium by junior Catherine Craig, who took third to capture her first Patriot League medal.
Hartigan will now graduate as an eight-time Patriot League individual medalist, having previously earned one gold in the 1,650 freestyle (2019), two silvers in the 500 freestyle (2020, 2019), one silver in the 1,650 freestyle (2020) and one bronze in the 200 freestyle (2020).
This year, Hartigan became the first Bison to win two gold medals at one championship meet since Emma Levendoski swept the backstroke races for the record fourth-straight time in 2016. In addition, Hartigan was a member of four career medal-winning relay teams, having captured bronze on 800 freestyle relay squads in both 2020 and 2019 before winning silver in this event and the 400 freestyle relay in 2022.
Notably, Hartigan tied Thomas for second among all swimmers by scoring 54.5 points at this year's championships. Navy's Sydney Harrington was the individual points champion with 60. Doss (t-12th, 47), Vumbacco (t-12th, 47) and Craig (14th, 44) also cracked the top 15 in overall point scorers.
Beyond their medal winners, four Bison qualified for Saturday's 'A' finals. Craig went fourth in the 200 breaststroke behind Bucknell's second-fastest time (2:14.23) while Hunter (200 backstroke) and Reggie Frias (3-meter dive) each went fifth. Frias's score of 271.20 was good for third in the Bison annals.
Donati placed sixth in the 100 freestyle. Notably, Bucknell had three divers beyond Frias score points, as Kate Gottwald, Gina Hinthorn and Meghan Catherwood all made 3-meter dive's 'B' finals.
Bucknell returns to action at the ECAC Championships, which will be held from Friday, Feb. 25 through Sunday, Feb. 27 at Lejeune Hall.
The Bison women are taking the @PatriotLeague runner-up 🏆 back to the 'Burg!
— Bucknell Swim & Dive (@Bucknell_SWIMDV) February 20, 2022
🏊♀️#rayBucknell🏊♀️ pic.twitter.com/IuisVZKekA
School Records:All 😁 with the 🏆.
— Bucknell Swim & Dive (@Bucknell_SWIMDV) February 20, 2022
The Bison women have now finished second at back-to-back @PatriotLeague Championships!
🏊♀️#rayBucknell🏊♀️ pic.twitter.com/BvwGZSytoK
400 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Sophia Donati, Kayla Lichtner, Esme Hunter (3:22.02)
Additional Top-10 Times/Scores:
200 breaststroke – Catherine Craig (2:14.23) – 2nd in School History
3-meter dive – Reggie Frias (271.20) – 3rd in School History
200 backstroke – Esme Hunter (1:59.84) – 6th in School History (swam in prelims)
100 freestyle – Sophia Donati (51.23) – 8th in School History
Point Scorers:
First Place:
1,650 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (16.37.48)
Second Place:
1,650 freestyle – Sabrina Vumbacco (16:38.74)
400 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Sophia Donati, Kayla Lichtner, Esme Hunter (3:22.02)
Third Place:
200 breaststroke – Abby Doss (2:13.56)
Fourth Place:
200 breaststroke – Catherine Craig (2:14.23) – 2nd in School History
Fifth Place:
200 backstroke – Esme Hunter (2:00.82)
3-meter dive – Reggie Frias (271.20) – 3rd in School History
Sixth Place:
100 freestyle – Sophia Donati (51.23) – 8th in School History
Tenth Place:
1,650 freestyle – Caroline McGann (17:20.19)
3-meter dive – Kate Gottwald (251.70)
Eleventh Place:
200 butterfly – Alexis Faria (2:02.86)
Thirteenth Place:
100 freestyle – Kayla Lichtner (52.00)
200 butterfly – Skye Sunderhauf (2:04.16)
3-meter dive – Gina Hinthorn (229.20)
Fifteenth Place:
200 butterfly – Meagan Hathaway (2:05.03)
Sixteenth Place:
3-meter dive – Meghan Catherwood (213.60)
Overall School Records:
Wednesday, Feb. 16
200 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (1:47.29) (swam as lead-off leg of 800 freestyle relay)
200 medley relay – Esme Hunter, Abby Doss, Alexis Faria, Sophia Donati (1:41.95)
Thursday, Feb. 17
500 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (4:45.85)
Saturday, Feb. 19
400 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Sophia Donati, Kayla Lichtner, Esme Hunter (3:22.02)
Overall Medalists:
Gold:
Thursday, Feb. 17
500 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (4:45.85)
Saturday, Feb. 19
1,650 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (16.37.48)
Silver:
Wednesday, Feb. 16
800 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Kayla Lichtner, Caroline McGann, Sabrina Vumbacco (7:18.70)
Friday, Feb. 18
400 IM – Abby Doss (4:20.32)
Saturday, Feb. 19
1,650 freestyle – Sabrina Vumbacco (16:38.74)
400 freestyle relay – Maddie Hartigan, Sophia Donati, Kayla Lichtner, Esme Hunter (3:22.02)
Bronze:
Thursday, Feb. 17
500 freestyle – Sabrina Vumbacco (4:48.90)
Friday, Feb. 18
200 freestyle – Maddie Hartigan (1:48.17)
400 IM – Catherine Craig (4:20.66)
Saturday, Feb. 19
200 breaststroke – Abby Doss (2:13.56)
Players Mentioned
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Breast/Fly/IM
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