Bucknell University
Army
Men's Swim & Dive Visits Army Saturday, Hosts La Salle Sunday in Dual Action
1/10/2024 12:30:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving
What:Â Bucknell (4-2, 4-2 PL) at Army (2-1, 1-1 PL)
When: Saturday, Jan. 13 – 1 p.m.
Where: Crandall Pool – West Point, N.Y.
Streaming Note: Saturday's meet at Army, which was originally scheduled to be shown on ESPN+, will no longer be broadcast due to technical difficulties in West Point. Live results will be available on the MeetMobile App.
What:Â Bucknell (4-2, 4-2 PL) vs. La Salle (0-4, 0-0 A10)
When: Sunday, Jan. 14 – 1 p.m.
Where: Kinney Natatorium – Lewisburg, Pa.
Watch:Â ESPN+
Live Results: BucknellBison.com
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell returns to the pool for the first time in 2024 as it begins its final stretch of dual meets leading into the Patriot League Championships. Bucknell goes on the road to face Army in Patriot League dual action on Saturday before returning to Lewisburg to host La Salle for its only non-league dual of the season on Sunday. Both events will be streamed on ESPN+.
• The Bison last competed during the first weekend of December, where they put together a strong first-place performance at the Bucknell Invite. Bucknell beat out five other schools en route to its first-place finish. The Bison finished third or better in nine events throughout the three-day meet, including a first-place finish by John Gehrig in the 200 IM. Additionally, Bucknell registered program top-10 times in the 200 medley relay, the 200 freestyle relay and the 3-meter dive.
• Jack Krug's 290.65 in the 3-meter dive, which ranks seventh in school history, earned him Patriot League Male Diver of the Week honors on Dec. 6. He's the third Bison to earn a weekly award this season, joining Jackson Vinarub and Gehrig. Gehrig has placed first 11 times in individual events this season.
• Bucknell's other additions to the program's record book this season include: Jackson Vinarub in the 1-meter dive (3rd, 289.65), Chris Fabian, Noah Basista, Gehrig and Drew Greene in the 200 medley relay (6th, 1:29.93), and Gehrig, Finn Russell, Greene and Fabian in the 200 freestyle relay (6th, 1:21.24).
• Entering this weekend, Bucknell is 17-7 in duals since the start of 2021-22 campaign, including a 15-6 mark against Patriot League foes.
• Bucknell finished the 2022-23 season 6-2 (5-2 PL) and placed third at the Patriot League Championships with 538.5 points. The Bison went on to take second at the ECAC Championships.
• Bucknell returned five All-Patriot League honorees this season: Justin DiSanto (2023 & 2022 2nd Team), Andy Dorsel (2022 1st Team, 2023 2nd Team), Fabian (2022 1st Team, 2023 2nd Team), Gehrig (2023 & 2022 1st Team) and Chris Kopac (2022 1st Team & 2023 2nd Team).
• The Bison lost two-time All-Patriot League honoree and three-time Patriot League medalist Leo Kuyl to graduation. Kuyl set both the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle school records in 2023.
• Bucknell returned three school-record holders: Kopac (200 freestyle), Fabian (100 butterfly) and Gehrig (200 butterfly, 200 IM).
• Seniors Gehrig, Fabian and Basista are serving as team captains this season.
• Bucknell welcomed seven newcomers to the roster this season.
Scouting Army
• The Black Knights moved to 2-1 (1-1 PL) with their Dec. 7 153-147 loss at Navy. Their two dual victories were over Boston U. and St. Bonaventure. Army will also host Penn State for a dual meet on Friday, Jan. 12 before hosting the Bison.
• Army returned 30 of its 36 letterwinners from last season, including seven First Team All-Patriot League honorees and six Second Team All-Patriot League members.
• The Black Knights finished just 10 points behind first-place Navy at the 2023 Patriot League Championships and have taken the runner-up spot 10 consecutive times. Army's Brice Barrieault was named the Patriot League Men's Rookie of the Meet and Brandt Nigro was named the Men's Swim Coach of the Year at the 2023 championships.
• The Bison are 5-32 in all-time dual meets with Army dating back to 1966. The Black Knights have claimed each of the last 11 meetings.
• Army posted a 170.5-127.5 win at Kinney Natatorium last January. The Bison took first place in seven events. Bucknell won both the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay behind the efforts of John Gehrig, Justin DiSanto, Chris Fabian and Leo Kuyl, and Gehrig picked up two individual wins as well.
Scouting La Salle
• La Salle is 0-4 this season with losses to Towson, UMBC, Drexel and Villanova in duals. The explorers last competed Nov. 19 at the Queens University of Charlotte Fall Frenzy.
• The Explorers went 4-5 (0-1 A10) in 2022-23 and took seventh at the Atlantic 10 Championships. The returning group includes championship standout sophomore Felix Jedbratt, who broke multiple program records as a rookie and earned a bronze medal in the 200 freestyle.
• Bucknell is 15-20 in all-time dual meets against La Salle dating back to 1960. The two teams last met in 2012, where Bucknell snapped a 16-dual losing skid to the Explorers. It was just the second time the Bison and Explorers went head-to-head since 1994. The 171-127 road victory saw the Bison win nine individual events.
• La Salle participated in last season's Bucknell Invitational and placed seventh out of eight teams, while the Bison came in first.
A Look Ahead
• The Bison return to Kinney Natatorium on Saturday, Jan. 27 to host Lehigh for their second-to-last dual of the season. Bucknell will celebrate Senior Day prior to the meet and will recognize four men's swimmers as well as seven members of the women's team.
Players Mentioned
