Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Women's Swim & Dive Hosts Final Dual Meet Saturday, Celebrates Senior Day vs. Lehigh
1/24/2024 12:16:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Bucknell (4-4, 3-4 PL) vs. Lehigh (4-3, 1-1 PL)
When: Saturday, Jan. 27 – 1 p.m.
Where: Kinney Natatorium – Lewisburg, Pa.
Watch:Â ESPN+
Live Results: BucknellBison.com
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell hosts Lehigh on Saturday for the team's final meet at Kinney Natatorium this season and its final dual meet. The Bison hit the road next weekend for their last competition before the 2024 Patriot League Championships, hosted at Navy Feb. 21-24. This Saturday's meet will be broadcast on ESPN+.
• Bucknell is celebrating Senior Day on Saturday, and four men's swimmers as well as seven members of the women's team will be recognized prior to the meet. The women's team has gone 22-7 (18-7 PL) in duals with this senior class, and the group includes three All-Patriot League honorees, a pair of two-time All-League honorees, and has combined to score 242.5 points at the Patriot League Championships. The women's seniors include: Abby Doss, Kate Gottwald, Esme Hunter, Grace Kujawski, Kayla Lichtner, Caroline McGann and Stephanie Walsh.
• Bucknell went 1-1 when it last competed on Jan. 13 and 14. The Bison dropped a road dual at Army before returning home to defeat La Salle 185-115. Against the Explorers, Bucknell recorded 10 first-place finishes and went 1-2-3 in four races. Sydney Dettmann took first in the 200 butterfly at Army for the team's only win in West Point.
• Five Bison have registered program top-10 times this season, including a record-breaking performance in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.47) by Kate Handley at the Bucknell Invitational. Other program top-10 times this season include: Hanna Bingley in the 100 breaststroke (4th, 1:03.08), Samantha Benzija in the 100 butterfly (8th, 55.87), Sydney Dettmann in the 200 butterfly (3rd, 2:01.72) and Kyla Kelly in the 200 IM (8th, 2:03.20).
• Along with Handley, Doss is Bucknell's other school-record holder on the roster. She set the 200 breaststroke standard at the 2021 Bucknell Invite.
• Meghan Catherwood is Bucknell's lone Patriot League weekly award winner this season, earning Female Diver of the Week honors on Oct. 24 after taking second place in the 3-meter dive and third in the 1-meter at the team's fall invitational.
• Bucknell finished the 2022-23 season 6-2 (5-2 PL) and placed third at the Patriot League Championships with 540.5 points. The Bison went on to take second at the ECAC Championships, and Catherwood competed at the 2023 NCAA Zone Diving Championships.
• Bucknell returned three All-Patriot League honorees this season: Doss (2023 2nd Team, 2022 1st Team), Hunter (2022 & 2023 2nd Team), and McGann (2023 2nd Team).
• The Bison lost three-time All-Patriot League honoree and six-time Patriot League medalist Sabrina Vumbacco as well as three-time All-Patriot League honoree and one-time Patriot League medalist Catherine Craig to graduation last spring.
• Seniors Hunter, Lichtner and Kujawski are serving as team captains this season.
• Bucknell welcomed nine newcomers to the roster this season.
Scouting Lehigh/Series History
• The Mountain Hawks improved to 4-3 (1-1 PL) with a win over Marist on Jan. 13. Against Patriot League opponents, Lehigh fell 176-124 in the season opener at Loyola and defeated Lafayette 229-71 at home.
• Lehigh returned 18 letterwinners and five All-Patriot League honorees, including First Team selection Sarah Hardy. Hardy holds the school record in the 50 butterfly, the 200 butterfly and the 200 IM.
• Lehigh finished fifth at the 2023 Patriot League Championships with 377.5 points.
• Bucknell leads the all-time series with the Mountain Hawks 24-10 dating back to 1977. The Bison have won six in a row in the series, including a 181-109 victory in Lewisburg last January. The Bison finished first in nine events last year and took runner-up in seven more. Bucknell also went 1-2-3 in the 200 medley relay, the 1000 freestyle and the 200 breaststroke.
Up Next
Bucknell travels to Annapolis, Md. for the Navy Invite. It's Bucknell's final competition before postseason.
Players Mentioned
