Leo Kuyl Named Bison of the Week After Record-Setting Performance at PL Championships

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Leo Kuyl of the Bucknell men's swimming & diving team was named Bison of the Week Monday following an outstanding performance at the 2023 Patriot League Championships. Kuyl collected three medals, won the 50 freestyle, set school records in two individual events and was part of three record-setting relay teams.

The highlight of the four-day meet was Kuyl's gold-medal finish in the 50 freestyle Thursday night. After tying 2022 champion Owen Harlow of Army with a 19.81 in the prelims, Kuyl prevailed in the finals with a school-record 19.75. He touched the wall one one-hundredth of a second before Loyola's Caleb Kelly in a dramatic finish at Kinney Natatorium.

Kuyl set the previous Bucknell 50 freestyle record at last year's championships, eclipsing Charlie McFarland's 2019 mark of 20.10. Before that, no Bison had touched the record since Jim Harvey in 1988.

Last night's 50 free was 𝙀𝙇𝙀𝘾𝙏𝙍𝙄𝘾! ⚡️

🏊‍♀️ #rayBucknell 🏊‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/nucchWXTMa
— Bucknell Swim & Dive (@Bucknell_SWIMDV) February 17, 2023

Kuyl broke his own 100 freestyle record from a year ago as well, which was also last set by Harvey in 1988. This year, the senior's 43.92 was good enough for bronze, while Kelly took first with a meet-record 43.27.

Along with his individual events, Kuyl earned a third-place finish and two fourth-place finishes in relays. He swam the final leg on the 400 medley relay team, which earned bronze with a school-record 3:13.34. He swam the second leg of the 200 freestyle team, which recorded the second-fastest time in program history (1:19.51), and he also anchored the 200 medley relay, which added another school record (1:26.83).

In the final event of the meet, Kuyl led off the 400 freestyle relay team that placed fourth and set yet another record, coming in at 2:56.34.

Additionally, Kuyl swam the 100 butterfly and tied for the fourth-best time in the record book while adding more points for Bucknell.

Kuyl helped rack up 165 points for the Bison by the end of the meet, as Bucknell went on to place third for a second straight year.

50 freestyle – First, 19.75 (school record)
100 freestyle – Third, 43.92 (school record)
400 medley relay – Third, 3:13.34 (school record)
200 freestyle relay – Fourth, 1:19.51 (2nd in school history)
400 freestyle relay – Fourth, 2:56.34 (school record)
200 medley relay – Fourth, 1:26.83 (school record)
100 butterfly – Tenth, 48.76 (t-4th in school history)

Bucknell heads to Annapolis, Md. this weekend to take part in the 2023 ECAC Swimming & Diving Championships.