Bucknell University
Patriot League Championships
Kuyl Captures 50 Freestyle Gold on Day Two of PL Swim & Dive Championships
2/16/2023 10:13:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Leo Kuyl swam a school-record 19.75 in the 50 freestyle to give the Bucknell men's swimming & diving team its first Patriot League gold medal in five years. It was one of three records the Bison broke on Thursday, as they remain in third place through two days of the championships at Kinney Natatorium.
Kuyl, who already owned Bucknell's top time in the 50 free with the 19.96 he posted in a runner-up effort at last year's championships, outdid himself in a dramatic race that came down to one one-hundredth of a second. Loyola's Caleb Kelly touched the wall at 19.76, and reigning champion Owen Harlow of Army clocked a 19.98.
Kuyl is also the first Bucknell men's swimmer to win the 50 freestyle since Eric Sokolosky in 2010.
Your 2023 𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙈𝙋𝙄𝙊𝙉 in the 50 freestyle! 🥇 𝙇𝙀𝙊 𝙆𝙐𝙔𝙇!! A school-record 19.75 for the senior! @ESPN | @PatriotLeagueTV
— Bucknell Swim & Dive (@Bucknell_SWIMDV) February 17, 2023
Watch: https://t.co/KqfWUTCc3W
🏊♀️ #rayBucknell 🏊♂️ pic.twitter.com/PuERfXhP1y
Kuyl was part of another record-setting effort for the Bison, swimming the final leg of the third-place 400 medley relay team. Kuyl, along with Chris Fabian, Justin DiSanto and John Gehrig, swam a 3:13.23 to earn bronze.
Gehrig was Bucknell's other record-setting swimmer on Thursday, as he recorded a program-best 1:46.21 in the 200 IM to tie for third with Army's Alex Edwards.
Freshmen Alex Crossing and Shane Wynne made their marks in the record book as well. Crossing's 4:28.37 in the 500 freestyle ranks fifth in program history, and Wynne's 1:49.12 in the 200 IM prelims ranks seventh.
Andy Dorsel already held the third-best 200 IM time, but he improved on the mark with a 1:47.49 to take sixth in the event. Along with Kuyl, DiSanto posted a strong showing in the 50 free with a 20.21 in the prelims to move from seventh to fourth in the Bison record book.
The Patriot League Championships continue Friday morning with the 100 butterfly prelims beginning at 10 a.m. Army currently leads the meet with 305.5 points, Navy is in second with 298.5, and the Bison are third with 192.5.
School Records:
50 freestyle – Leo Kuyl (19.75)
200 IM – John Gehrig (1:46.21)
400 medley relay – Chris Fabian, Justin DiSanto, John Gehrig, Leo Kuyl (3:13.23)
Additional Top-10 Times:
500 freestyle – Alex Crossing (4:28.37) – 5th in school history
200 IM – Shane Wynne (1:49.12) (swam in prelims) – 7th in school history
200 IM – Andy Dorsel (1:47.49) – 3rd in school history
50 freestyle – Justin DiSanto (20.21) (swam in prelims) – 4th in school history
Point Scorers:
First Place:
50 freestyle – Leo Kuyl (19.75) – School Record
Third Place:
400 medley relay – Chris Fabian, Justin DiSanto, John Gehrig, Leo Kuyl (3:13.23) – school record
T-Third Place:
200 IM – John Gehrig (1:46.21) – School Record
Sixth Place:
200 IM – Andy Dorsel (1:47.49) – 3rd in school history
Seventh Place:
500 freestyle – Chris Kopac (4:25.16)
Eighth Place:
50 freestyle – Justin DiSanto (20.29)
Thirteenth Place:
500 freestyle – Alex Crossing (4:28.37)
Sixteenth Place:
200 IM – Alex Crossing (1:50.31)
Players Mentioned
