Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
La Salle
Women's Swim & Dive Topples La Salle at Home, 185-115
1/14/2024 7:10:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell women's swimming & diving team wrapped up its first weekend back after the semester break with a 185-115 win over La Salle Sunday at Kinney Natatorium. Bucknell maintained the lead throughout the meet and won 10 of 16 events to improve to 4-4 in duals this season. Senior Esme Hunter won two events and also swam the first leg of Bucknell's winning 200 medley relay team.
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."
Along with its 10 wins, Bucknell saw runner-up finishes in nine events, and the Bison finished 1-2-3 in four races. Bucknell had built a lead of more than 60 points by the sixth event of the meet and clinched it by the 12th.
Hunter captured first-place finishes in the 100 backstroke (57.25) and the 100 freestyle (52.84), and she also swam the fourth leg of Bucknell's 200 freestyle relay team.
Esme Hunter by a hair in the 100 free! Tune in on @ESPN as we continue on in our dual against La Salle. @PatriotLeagueTV
— Bucknell Swim & Dive (@Bucknell_SWIMDV) January 14, 2024
📺 https://t.co/ydHEaAohw9
🏊♀️ #rayBucknell 🏊♂️ pic.twitter.com/plz9qmg7iM
Another outstanding performance was had by sophomore Kyla Kelly, who captured a win the 400 IM (4:31.57) to lead a trio of Bison. Rookie Kelly Byrne came in second in the event, and Skye Sunderhauf followed in third. Kelly added two runner-up finishes in the 200 butterfly (2:08.16) and the 200 backstroke.
The 200 butterfly was another race in which the Bison dominated. Sunderhauf took first with a 2:08.14, narrowly edging Kelly, and Rylie Giles rounded out the top three with a 2:10.08.
Bucknell claimed the top four spots in the 200 freestyle. First-year Sydney Dettmann touched the wall first with a 1:55.98, followed by Caroline McGann (1:56.29), Kayla Lichtner (1:58.26) and Ashley Piacentino (1:58.85).
Bucknell went 1-2-3 in the 500 freestyle as well. Giles took first with a 5:11.89, followed by McGann (5:14.18) for her second runner-up spot, and Virginia Hastings in third (5:15.61).
Rounding out Bucknell's first-place finishers were Hanna Bingley in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.06) and Talia Bugel in the 200 backstroke (2:07.44).
"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.
First Place Finishes
200 Medley Relay – Esme Hunter, Hanna Bingley, Megan Leyden, Kayla Lichtner (1:46.58)
1000 Freestyle – Kelly Byrne (10:41.24)
200 Freestyle – Sydney Dettmann (1:55.98)
100 Backstroke – Esme Hunter (57.25)
100 Breaststroke – Hanna Bingley (1:06.06)
200 Butterfly – Skye Sunderhauf (2:08.14)
100 Freestyle – Esme Hunter (52.84)
200 Backstroke – Talia Bugel (2:07.44)
500 Freestyle – Rylie Giles (5:11.89)
400 IM – Kyla Kelly (4:31.57)
Second Place Finishes
200 Freestyle – Caroline McGann (1:56.29)
200 Butterfly – Kyla Kelly (2:08.16)
200 Backstroke – Kyla Kelly (2:08.14)
200 Breaststroke – Hanna Bingley (2:24.15)
500 Freestyle – Caroline McGann (5:14.18)
100 Butterfly – Megan Leyden (58.75)
3-Meter Dive – Meghan Catherwood (242.10)
400 IM – Kelly Byrne (4:31.70)
200 Freestyle Relay – Virginia Hastings, Kayla Lichtner, Megan Leyden, Esme Hunter (1:38.90)
Third Place Finishes
1000 Freestyle – Kendall Luecke (10:56.38)
200 Freestyle – Kayla Lichtner (2:58.26)
100 Backstroke – Talia Bugel (59.39)
100 Breaststroke – Kate Handley (1:07.98)
200 Butterfly – Rylie Giles (2:10.08)
1-Meter – Meghan Catherwood (222.15)
100 Freestyle – Kayla Lichtner (53.89)
200 Breaststroke – Ava Stallmeyer (2:24.79)
500 Freestyle – Virginia Hastings (5:15.61)
3-Meter Dive – Reggie Frias (236.10)
400 IM – Skye Sunderhauf (4:36.48)
1-2-3 Finishes
200 Freestyle – Sydney Dettmann (1st, 1:55.98), Caroline McGann (2nd, 1:56.29), Kayla Lichtner (3rd, 2:58.26)
200 Butterfly – Skye Sunderhauf (1st, 2:08.14), Kyla Kelly (2nd, 2:08.16), Rylie Giles (3rd, 2:10.08)
500 Freestyle – Rylie Giles (1st, 5:11.89), Caroline McGann (2nd, 5:14.18), Virginia Hastings (3rd, 5:15.61)
400 IM – Kyla Kelly (1st, 4:31.57), Kelly Byrne (2nd, 4:31.70), Skye Sunderhauf (3rd, 4:36.48)
Players Mentioned
