BUFFALO — The University at Buffalo men’s and women’s swimming and diving team begin their season on Saturday, October 22nd in their home pool against the Cornell Bears. Their season begins shortly after the Preseason Coaches’ Poll was released. Buffalo women were voted fourth, while the men were voted second.
The Bulls have a strong core of returners coming back to the pool. In the 2015-2016 season, the Bulls brought home conference champions in ten different events, with all but one returning this year. They also had five different athletes qualify for the Olympic Time Trials last year: Megan Burns, Luke Otto, Garrett Clarke, Scott Huang, and Hudson Carroll.
Megan Burns was a driving force for the Bulls last year, taking home the conference championship in three different events: 800 Free Relay, 50 Free, and 100 Free. Her championship in the 50 free was fast enough for a school, MAC, MAC Championship, and pool record, while also qualifying for NCAA “B” cut. She also qualified for NCAA “B” Cut in the 100 Free. Burns was the only Bulls to represent Buffalo at the NCAA Championships. She was a member of 1st Team All-MAC, Female Student-Athlete of the Year for Buffalo, Most Valuable Player, and Distinguished Scholar Athlete.
Joining Burns in the pool will be sophomore, Kerry Giovanniello, and junior, Eve Kosten. Giovanniello and Kosten were conference champions in 800 Free Relay and 200 Free relay, respectively. Junior Sarah Baxter returns to the line-up, after an impressive sophomore campaign. Baxter was a member of 2nd Team All-MAC, made NCAA “B” Cuts for the 40 Free Relay, came in second at MAC Championships in 200 Free Relay, and was named Top Newcomer for the women.
Also returning to the roster are seniors Abbey Croce (Dive), Cristina Czyrka (Free/Breast/IM), Gloria Melofchik (Back/Free/Breast), Mackenzie Moss (Dive), and; juniors Rachel Bertini (Free/Fly), Victoria Butler (Free/Fly/IM), Claudia Casale (Breast/IM/Back), Valarie Lortie (Dive), Hannah Miller (Free/IM), Kelly Moran (Dive), Saoirse Palu-Benson (Free/Fly), Sharne Tiller (IM/Breast), and Kelli Ann Valedon (Back/IM); and sophomores Julia Box (Back/Free/Fly), Maddy Jacumski (Back), and Catherine Schultheis (Free/Fly).
Itai De La Vega and Mason Miller also had stellar performances last year, taking home five different conference championship titles. De La Vega took home the conference title in 200 Medley Relay, which broke the school and pool record. He also took home the conference title in 100 Breast, which broke the school, MAC, MAC Championship, and pool records, and tied for 61st in all of Division I for the 100 Breast. De La Vega was also a member of 1st Team All-MAC. Mason Miller took home three different conference championship titles: 200 Medley relay, 50 Free, and 100 Fly. Miller set the school record in the 100 Fly at the MAC Championship, while also being named a member of 1st Team All-MAC. Miller was also named Most Valuable Player for the men and Top Newcomer.
Also returning for the Bulls are seniors Troy Birdsall (Dive), Andrew Cole-Goins (Free/Fly), Aaron Durrence (Free), Nick Hooper (Free/Back), Scott Huang (Breast/Free), Eric Jensen (Fly/Back), Martin Leigh (Free/Fly), Callum Liddiard (Free/Fly/IM), Nick Rodriguez (Dive), and Reid Zyniecki (Free/Breast/IM); juniors Hudson Carroll (Fly/Back/Breast), Garrett Clarke (Breast/IM), Luke Otto (Breast/IM), Dan Roche (Dive), and Kristian Santos (Dive); and sophomores Tudor Puznet (Free/Fly) and Zachary Towers (Free/Back/Fly/IM).
Head Coach Andy Bashor is also introducing eight new athletes to the roster: Grace Baumer (IM/Breast), Katelyn Burns (Free), Andrea Ernst (Free/Fly/Back), Luther Gordon (Breast/IM), Ryan Gordon (Back/IM), Olivia Gosselin (Dive), Joseph Puglessi (Back/IM), and Anna Vitolins (Breast/IM).
Bashor is looking forward to the upcoming season, and looking for strong leadership from the upperclassmen in pacing to Bulls to another successful campaign.
from UBBulls.com via IFTTT
