Buffalo vs Cornell
- October 12, 2024
- Buffalo, N.Y.
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results
Courtesy: Buffalo Athletics
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo swimming and diving team opened their 2024-25 season at home against Cornell on Saturday afternoon, an exhibition that did not feature team scores. The season-opening meet featured nine event wins for the Bulls, strong performances from newcomers and new personal best performances from returners in both the pool and the diving well.
IN THE POOL
The Bulls began the events in the pool on a strong note, winning in the 200-yard medley relay. The team of Mia Naccarella, Grace Rider, Nicole Aguilar and Alicia Wood finished the relay with a time of 1:44.47.
Freshman Isabella Forsman began the individual events in the pool with a win in the 400-yard, finishing with a time of 4:25.08. Forsman doubled back later in the afternoon to win the 100-yard individual medley with a time of 58.60.
Rider and freshman Ava Pauly shined in the breaststroke events for the Bulls. Rider won the 50-yard backstroke with a time of 30.07 as Pauly trailed close behind with a time of 30.70. The two had a repeat performance in the 100-yard breaststroke, with Rider taking second (1:05.82) and Pauly finishing third (1:06.04).
Olympic trials qualifier Naccarella picked up where she left off last season, winning the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 55.55. Naccarella set the school record in the event just last season (52.74). The graduate student also competed in the 100-yard butterfly, taking second with a time of 57.69, two seconds shy of the UB all-time leaderboards. Freshman Maddy Schnelzer tailed the graduate student by a second, finishing fourth with a time of 58.83.
The Bulls had a few student-athletes return to the pool following injuries last season. Abbey Gardner set personal records in the 100-yard freestyle (54.08) and 200-yard freestyle (1:55.26). Jillian Strine had two personal records of her own in the 50-yard freestyle (24.61) and the 100-yard freestyle (54.08). Sawyer Bosley also returned, competing in the 50-yard butterfly (2nd, 26.18) and the 200-yard freestyle (4th, 1:56.38).
The Bulls closed out the afternoon in the pool just as they began it, winning the 400-yard freestyle team relay. The team of Bosley, Strine, Naccarella and Forsman finished the event in 3:32.07.
“I loved the energy we had today,” said Head Coach Andy Bashor. “The women did an awesome job of supporting each other, especially towards the end of the meet. I am looking forward to them learning from this experience and making improvements.”
DIVING
The Bulls dominated the diving well in both the one and three-meter, having the top six finishers in the one-meter event and the top five divers in the three-meter event.
2023-2024 Mid-American Conference Diver of the Year Marialis Kwak won both the one (306.38) and three-meter (300.15) events, continuing where she left off at MAC Championships. The senior’s diving score on both boards already qualifies her for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships in the spring.
In the three-meter event, sophomore Sophie Meuwissen had an NCAA Zone Diving Championships qualifying score too of 281.18, a new personal record. Kaylee Donovan (3rd, 278.25), Presley Dorsett (4th, 274.20) and Mallory Hanna (5th, 257.25) rounded out Buffalo’s top five. Maggie Meyers placed seventh with a score of 222.23 and freshman Daphne Fox took tenth with a score of 212.25.
In one-meter diving, Meuwissen took second yet again with a score of 261.90, just shy of her personal best (268.95) in the event. Hanna (3rd, 255.08), Donovan (4th, 250.13), Meyers (5th, 249.60) and Dorsett (6th, 240.45) finished consecutively for the Bulls to take the top six spots. Meyers’ score was also a new personal record. Fox finished eighth with a score of 215.70 in her debut, putting seven Buffalo divers in the top eight finishers.
“The divers started the season great,” said Head Diving Coach Russ Dekker. “Today shows that they work hard and enjoy what they do.”
All results from Saturday’s meet can be accessed here.
The Bulls will next compete in the Alumni Arena Natatorium against Eastern Michigan on October 26th to open their Mid-American Conference schedule. The meet is set to begin at 11 am.
A complete schedule for UB Swimming and Diving can be accessed here.
