Bucknell University
ECAC Championships
Men's Swim & Dive in Fourth Place Through First Day of ECAC Championships
3/1/2024 8:49:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Bucknell men's swimming & diving team saw two individuals reach the A finals, highlighted by a runner-up finish for Chris Kopac in the 200 IM, as the Bison sit in fourth place out of 14 teams after the opening day of the ECAC Championships. With 98 points, Bucknell trails first-place Navy (297), second-place Princeton (134) and third-place Columbia (120.5).
Kopac, who was named to the All-Patriot League First Team earlier this week, took second in the 200 IM Friday evening. The junior improved on his Friday morning 1:49.32 prelim time by more than a second during the evening session and swam a 1:47.70, which ranks fourth in school history. Kopac sat in seventh place midway through the race before coming back on the final lap and finishing behind only Navy's Kellan Pattison (1:47.52).
Kopac was also part of Bucknell's third-place 200 freestyle relay team, which also logged a program top-10 time. Nick Shopis, Kopac, Colin Smith and Chris Fabian recorded a 1:21.45, which ranks eighth in school history, and they trailed only Navy (1:19.02) and Rider (1:20.92).
Fabian and Shopis swam in Bucknell's 400 medley relay as well. Joined by Chase Ferguson and Matt Raudabaugh, the group touched the wall in 3:19.15 to finish fifth.
Fabian, an All-Patriot League Second Team honoree this week, was Bucknell's other A finals finisher on Friday. He took seventh in the 50 freestyle with a 20.45, while Smith finished 11th in the event with a 20.87. Also adding points for the Bison was Caleb Kubiak, who finished 14th in the 200 IM with a 1:52.71.
The Bison resume competition at the ECAC Championships Saturday morning, with the 200 medley relay prelims scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at Lejeune Hall.
Program Top-10 Performances:
200 Freestyle Relay – Nick Shopis, Chris Kopac, Colin Smith, Chris Fabian (1:21.45) – 8th in school history
200 IM – Chris Kopac (1:47.70) – 4th in school history
2nd Place:
200 IM – Chris Kopac (1:47.70)
3rd Place:
200 Freestyle Relay – Nick Shopis, Chris Kopac, Colin Smith, Chris Fabian (1:21.45)
5th Place:
400 Medley Relay – Chase Ferguson, Matt Raudabaugh, Chris Fabian, Nick Shopis (3:19.15)
7th Place:
50 Freestyle – Chris Fabian (20.45)
11th Place:
50 Freestyle – Colin Smith (20.87)
14th Place:
200 IM – Caleb Kubiak (1:52.71)
Players Mentioned
