Bucknell v. Army

WEST POINT, New York, January 19. CLINGING to a one-point lead heading into the final event, Bucknell came out on top in the 400 free relay to help the men's swimming and diving team to a thrilling 155-145 victory over Army. The win, which was the first for the Bison in a dual meet against the Black Knights since 1975, moves Bucknell's record to 5-2 on the year, 3-1 in the Patriot League.

The Bison started off the day on a strong note with a victory in the 200 medley relay. The team of junior Mark Kawczenski (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Hanover Area), senior Bradford Bennett (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area), senior Grant Steadman (Richmond, Va./Collegiate) and sophomore Daniel Fletcher (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) combined for a time of one minute, 35.91 seconds, giving Bucknell an 11-6 lead in the team score.

Sophomore Luke Trafton (Bath, Maine/Morse) followed up by taking first in the 1,000 free in 9:43.19, while classmate David Iselin (Potomac, Md./Churchill) finished fourth (9:56.07).

Army kept pace with the Bison by claiming the top two spots in the 200 free. Fletcher was the top finisher for the Orange and Blue, taking third and clocking in at 1:44.71.

Bucknell's lead stretched to 10 points after Kawczenski was first to the wall in the 100 back with a time of 52.43. Freshman Gonzalo DeLeon (Ringwood, N.J./Lakeland Regional) placed third (54.32) in the event and junior Chris Amato (East Norwich, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) came in fourth (54.50).

The Black Knights went one-two in the 100 breast, while senior Joseph Metcalf (Knoxville, Tenn./Phillips Exeter Academy (N.H.)) finished third for the Bison with a time of 59.98.

Trafton helped the Orange and Blue remain on top as he was first to the wall in the 200 fly, recording a time of 1:57.26. Senior John Peterman (Conestoga, Pa./Penn Manor) then won the 50 free in 21.81, while Steadman recorded a third-place showing (22.31).

After Jeffrey Manning (Bringhurst, Ind./Carroll Jr./Sr. High) posted a runner-up performance in one meter diving with a score of 250.73, Bucknell's lead was cut to two. However, three wins for the Bison in the next three events helped the squad extend its advantage to the largest margin of the meet, 27 points.

Peterman was victorious for the second time on the day, finishing the 100 free in 47.34. Steadman and Kawczenski added additional points for the Orange and Blue in third (48.32) and fourth (48.71), respectively.

Fletcher then headed up a one-two-three sweep for Bucknell in the 200 back, leading the way with a time of 1:54.87, while DeLeon followed in second (1:55.42) and Iselin in third (1:55.83).

Metcalf won the 200 breast in 2:08.93 and sophomore Brett Carey (West Chester, Pa./Malvern Prep) finished fourth with a time of 2:13.10.

Army managed to trim away its deficit by outscoring the Bison in each of the next four events. In the 500 free, Trafton took second (4:45.82) and Leboza third (4:47.58) for the Orange and Blue.

Amato was the top Bucknell finisher in the 200 fly, posting the runner-up time of 53.41. Coming in behind him were freshman Michael Volpe (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) (53.61, third) and Bennett (53.65, fourth).

Manning recorded the second highest three-meter diving score, 260.17, and after Fletcher placed third to lead the Bison in the 200 IM with a time of 2:00.49, Bucknell's lead was cut to one.

The Orange and Blue then clinched the meet victory with a win in the 400 free relay. Peterman, Steadman, Kawczenski and Trafton teamed up to post the top time of 3:09.41. Leboza, Iselin, Metcalf and Volpe finished third in 3:14.04.

For the women, Sophomore Megan Mongan (Malvern, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) and junior Kelly Morris (Metuchen, N.J./Metuchen) picked up two wins apiece helping the squad to a 167-133 victory over Army. The Bison move to 3-4 on the year with the win and 3-2 in the Patriot League, while the Black Knights fall to 3-5, 1-2 in league meets.

Mongan took first in the 100 free with a time of 54.32 seconds and later posted the top time in the 200 IM, 2:12.20. She was also the runner-up in the 200 free, finishing in 1:54.98. Morris was first to the wall in both the 100 breast with a time of 1:07.98 and the 200 breast (2:27.15).

The duo was also part of Bucknell's winning 200 medley relay as sophomore Courtney Warren (Montour Falls, N.Y./Watkins Glen), Morris, freshman Molly Goebel (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan), and Mongan combined for a time of 1:49.21.

Warren recorded the fastest time in the 100 back, finishing in 58.76, and sophomore Abigail Atkinson (Newtown, Conn./Newtown) won the 200 back with a time of 2:09.26. Atkinson posted two additional scoring performances, finishing as the runner-up in both the 100 back (1:00.79) and the 200 IM (2:13.77).

Kristen Skroski (North Haven, Conn./Hopkins), Goebel, and freshman Macey Keath (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) took second in two events apiece as well. Skroski's came in the 1,000 free with a time of 10:24.03 and in the 500 free (5:12.11). Goebel was the runner-up in the 50 free and the 100 free with times of 24.94 and 54.73, respectively, while also scoring in the 100 fly (fourth, 1:00.87). Keath placed second in both breast stroke events, swimming the 100 in 1:09.09 and the 200 in 2:27.30.

Other swimmers providing points in the individual events included sophomore Sarah Pease (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin Senior High) who was the runner-up in the 200 fly (2:14.62) and third in the 100 fly 1:00.78), senior Katalin Lyons (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central Regional) who placed third in the 1,000 free (10:57.75) and fourth in the 500 free (5:25.52) and sophomore Abigail Paules (York, Pa./Baltimore Lutheran) who took third in the 200 back (2:12.49) and fourth in the 200 fly (2:15.60).

Junior Susan Horstmann (Havertown, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) and sophomore Lauren Russell (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) scored in three events apiece. Horstmann finished third in the 200 free (1:59.24), fourth in the 50 free (26.06) and fifth in the 100 free (55.74), while Russell swam well in the 200 IM (third, 2:14.05), 100 back (fourth, 1:02.07) and the 200 back (fourth, 2:13.94).

In the diving events, sophomore Eliza Massie (Rochester, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland) posted the second-highest score on the one-meter board, 230.32, and classmate Allison FitzPatrick (Berwyn, Pa./Episcopal) was the runner-up on the three meter board, posting a mark of 229.65.

Special thanks to Bucknell for contributing this report.

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