Bucknell University Athletics
Three Bison Earn Spots on 2024 Swimming & Diving Academic All-Patriot League Team
3/5/2024 12:00:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Three members of the Bucknell men's & women's swimming & diving teams earned spots on the 2024 Academic All-Patriot League Team, the league office announced Tuesday. Esme Hunter, Caroline McGann and Chris Kopac were among the 24 Patriot League student-athletes that were recognized.
Hunter, a senior, led Bucknell with 63 points scored at the 2024 Patriot League Championships this season. She reached the A finals in both the 100 and 200 backstroke, finishing fourth and eighth respectively. She also swam on three program top-10 relay teams during the championships. Hunter placed first in events four times throughout the season and swam the 10th-fastest 200 IM in school history at the Navy Invite in February.
An early childhood education major, Hunter made her third All-Patriot League Team this season and is a two-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
McGann made the Academic All-Patriot League Team for a second year in a row. The senior totaled 17 points at the championship meet, scoring in the 200 and 1650 freestyle, and she was the second leg of Bucknell's fourth-place 800 freestyle relay team. McGann was an All-Patriot League honoree last season.
McGann, and economics and geography major, has been on the Bucknell Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Executive Board for two years and is serving as president this year. She's a mentor for the College of Arts and Sciences and is a member of the Women in Economics Club. The 2023-24 swiming & diving co-captain is also a member of Bucknell's Morgan's Message chapter and was selected for this year's Women's Sports Foundation and NBC Sports Student-Athlete Mentoring Program.
Kopac led all Bison with 76 points scored at the PL Championships, ranking 14th in the league. The First Team All-Patriot League honoree took third in the 200 freestyle, fourth in the 500 freestyle and seventh in the 1650 freestyle. He set the school record in the 200 freestyle and was a member of the 800 freestyle relay team, which earned a bronze medal. Kopac logged three more program top-10 times this past weekend at the ECAC Championships.
A junior business analytics major, Kopac is a member of the Bison Finance Society, is a School of Management Freeman Fellow, a teaching assistant and a four-time Dean's List member. He's been named to three All-Patriot League teams and two Academic All-Patriot League teams during his career.
To be eligible for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and the Academic All-Patriot League Team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and be a starter or key player in his/her sport. Freshmen or students in their first academic year at their school are not eligible for the honor.
2024 Patriot League Men's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Max Verheyen, Loyola Maryland
2024 Patriot League Women's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Mimi Watts, American
2024 Patriot League Women's Swimming and Diving All-Academic Team
Mimi Watts, American
Meghan Cole, Army West Point
Margaret Kroening, Army West Point
Molly Webber, Army West Point
Sumi Cameron, Boston University
Esme Hunter, Bucknell
Caroline McGann, Bucknell
Sarah Hardy, Lehigh
Lily Mead, Loyola Maryland
Gabi Baldwin, Navy
Cameron Horner, Navy
Caroline Irwin, Navy
2024 Patriot League Men's Swimming and Diving All-Academic Team
Nick Buckley, American
James Pinter, Army West Point
CJ Bernauer, Army West Point
Joey Kling, Army West Point
Kyle Falkstrom, Boston University
Chris Kopac, Bucknell
Patrick Hayburn, Loyola Maryland
Henry Mueller, Loyola Maryland
Max Verheyen, Loyola Maryland
Patrick Colwell, Navy
Jake Doherty, Navy
Gavin Green, Navy
Players Mentioned
