Bucknell University
La Salle
Men's Swim & Dive Earns Home Win Over La Salle, 179-121
1/14/2024 7:48:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell men's swimming & diving team bounced back from its loss to Army on Saturday with a 179-121 victory over La Salle at Kinney Natatorium Sunday. The Bison won nine of 16 events, finished 1-2-3 in three races, and saw another program top-10 performance in the diving portion. Bucknell improved to 5-3 (4-3 PL) with the win.
"It was a busy weekend," said head coach Dan Schinnerer, who took the team up to West Point, N.Y. on Saturday to take on Army before returning to Lewisburg Sunday to face the Explorers. "We would've liked to have been more competitive with Army, but we're happy with the performances coming off a break. Something we emphasized was starting our January better than we were in November and December."
The Bison and Explorers went back and fourth over the first few events of the meet before Bucknell took the lead for good during the 100 freestyle, where Justin DiSanto captured one of his two wins. The junior posted a 46.11 and was followed in second place by classmate Chris Kopac (46.41). Drew Greene and Colin Smith also scored in the 100 free, giving the Bison the overall team lead for good after the two schools sat locked at 75-75 heading into the event.
It was DiSanto's second win of the day after he touched the wall first in the 50 freestyle with a 20.98. Like the 100 free, the Bison took the top two spots with Finn Russell trailing in second with a 21.45.
Senior Chris Fabian also posted two individual wins on Sunday, placing first in the 100 backstroke with a 51.29 and in the 200 backstroke with a 1:53.05., narrowly beating La Salle's Tarik Gusic in both events. Gusic finished the 200 backstroke in 1:53.39 and the 100 backstroke in 51.43.
William Shoemaker won the 1000 freestyle with a 9:43.93 in what was the first of three 1-2-3 finishes for the Bison. He was followed in the distance race by Kopac (9:47.10) and Riley Twiss (9:53.14). Shoemaker was also part of Bucknell's 1-2-3 finish in the 500 freestyle, taking second behind Alex Crossing (4:42.35) and ahead of third-place Braden Beagle (4:46.21).
Bucknell took the first four spots in the 400 IM. Andy Dorsel led the pack with a 4:06.13, followed Twiss (4:09.87), Kevin Crane (4:12.99) and Crossing (4:14.75).
Rounding out the Bison winners were Shane Wynne, who took the 200 butterfly with a 1:50.99, and John Gehrig, who won the 100 butterfly with a 48.86.
Jack Krug, who moved from 10th to ninth in the Bucknell record book with his 1-meter dive at Army Saturday, made another move up to sixth all-time with his 277.95 on Sunday. He placed third in the meet with the score.
"Today was about continuing to build. The back-to-back meets is a challenge, but that's part of the preparation," said Schinnerer. "We saw good things from both teams."
Bucknell is off next weekend before returning to Kinney Natatorium on Saturday, Jan. 27 to host Lehigh. The Bison will celebrate Senior Day during the dual against the Mountain Hawks and will recognize seven graduating members of the women's team and four from the men's team for the home finale.
Program Top-10 Marks
1-Meter Dive – Jack Krug (277.95) – 6th in school history
First Place Finishes
1000 Freestyle – William Shoemaker (9:43.93)
100 Backstroke – Chris Fabian (51.29)
200 Butterfly – Shane Wynne (1:50.99)
50 Freestyle – Justin DiSanto (20.98)
100 Freestyle – Justin DiSanto (46.11)
200 Backstroke – Chris Fabian (1:53.05)
500 Freestyle – Alex Crossing (4:42.35)
100 Butterfly – John Gehrig (48.86)
400 IM – Andy Dorsel (4:06.13)
Second Place Finishes
200 Medley Relay – Chris Fabian, Noah Basista, John Gehrig, Drew Greene (1:33.25)
1000 Freestyle – Chris Kopac (9:47.10)
200 Freestyle – John Gehrig (1:42.21)
100 Breaststroke – Matt Raudabaugh (57.90)
50 Freestyle – Finn Russell (21.45)
100 Freestyle – Chris Kopac (46.41)
200 Breaststroke – Will Hedges (2:07.58)
500 Freestyle – William Shoemaker (4:43.65)
400 IM – Riley Twiss (4:09.87)
200 Freestyle Relay – Chris Kopac, Drew Greene, Shane Wynne, Colin Smith (1:25.94)
Third Place Finishes
1000 Freestyle – Riley Twiss (9:53.14)
200 Freestyle – Andy Dorsel (1:43.18)
100 Backstroke – Braden Beagle (52.40)
100 Breaststroke – Noah Basista (58.07)
200 Butterfly – Alex Crossing (1:54.48)
1-Meter Dive – Jack Krug (277.95)
200 Backstroke – Andy Dorsel (1:53.39)
200 Breaststroke – James Lombardi (2:10.49)
500 Freestyle – Braden Beagle (4:46.21)
100 Butterfly – Finn Russell (52.05)
400 IM – Kevin Crane (4:12.99)
1-2-3 Finishes
1000 Freestyle – William Shoemaker (1st, 9:43.93), Chris Kopac (2nd, 9:47.10), Riley Twiss (3rd, 9:53.14)
500 Freestyle – Alex Crossing (1st, 4:42.35), William Shoemaker (2nd, 4:43.65), Braden Beagle (3rd, 4:46.21)
400 IM – Andy Dorsel (1st, 4:06.13), Riley Twiss (2nd, 4:09.87), Kevin Crane (3rd, 4:12.99)
Players Mentioned
