Freshman Han Hoang Ties BU Record As Women Top Bucknell; Bison Men Down Terriers

Boston U vs Bucknell

• October 14, 2023
• Boston, Mass.
• SCY (25 yards)
• Results

Courtesy: BU Athletics

BOSTON – Highlighted by freshman Han Hoang tying the program record in the 50 freestyle, the Boston University women’s swimming & diving team opened up its dual schedule with a 157-143 victory over Bucknell on Saturday afternoon at FitRec Competition Pool.

In her home debut, Hoang went down and back in 22.97 seconds to match the school record set by Sezin Eligul four seasons ago.

Here’s a look at Han’s record-tying swim in the 50 free‼️@PatriotLeagueTV | #GoBU pic.twitter.com/onYQzk8USo

— BU Swimming & Diving (@TerrierSwimDive) October 14, 2023

In all, five Terriers combined for eight individual wins on the day, helping the Terriers reverse last year’s margin against Bucknell by 88 points to seal the impressive dual win.

Hoang won both the 50 and 100 freestyle while senior Lara Mitchell swept the backstroke events and junior Sophia Souza took both diving events. Freshman Izzy Valantiejus was victorious in the 1,000-yard freestyle and senior Madison Kim touched the wall first in the 100-yard butterfly. The Terriers also captured both relays (200 medley, 400 free) to bookend the meet.

Valantiejus added a runner-up finish in the 500 free to add to her impressive debut while four others (Stella Langenbach – 200 free; Milena Busma – 100 fly; Marina Cataldo – 3-meter; Haley Newman – 200 IM) also collected second-place finishes.

The Terriers will return to action on Friday, Oct. 27, when they host Army West Point at 5 p.m.

Wins
Han Hoang – 50 free, 22.97; 100 free, 51.00
Izzy Valantiejus – 1,000 free, 10:41.72
Sophia Souza – 1-meter dive, 278.62; 3-meter dive, 270.90
Lara Mitchell – 100 back, 56.95; 200 back, 2:05.28
Madison Kim – 100 fly, 57.54
200 medley relay (Mitchell, Hoyt, Kim, Hoang), 1:45.40
400 free relay (Langenbach, Kim, Brenner, Hoang), 3:28.95

Runner-ups
Stella Langenbach – 200 free, 1:53.71
Izzy Valantiejus – 500 free, 5:09.55
Milena Busma – 100 fly, 57.62
Marina Cataldo – 3-meter dive, 257.17
Haley Newman – 200 IM, 2:09.96

BOSTON – The Boston University men’s swimming & diving team opened its dual schedule at home on Saturday afternoon and fell to Bucknell by a score of 173.5-123.5.

Graduate student Kyle Falkstrom swept the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke events, senior Justin Lee won the 50-yard freestyle, sophomore Tony Ponomarev took first in the 100-yard backstroke and freshman Jonny Farber had an impressive debut with a win in the 200-yard backstroke.

The Terriers cut their deficit from last year’s loss to Bucknell by more than half as the Bison earned a 208-90 home victory last season.

Freshman Jonathan Tsang had a strong home debut, finishing second in both the 100 and 200 breast while finishing third in the 1,000 free.

In diving, freshman Zein Mahana was runner-up in both the 1-meter and 3-meter events.

Other second-place performances came from Farber (200 free), sophomore Ben Cho (50 free), Ponomarev (200 back), junior Justin Liao (200 breast), Falkstrom (200 IM) and the team’s top 400 free relay.

The Terriers will return to action on Friday, Oct. 27, when they host Army West Point at 5 p.m.

Wins
Tony Ponomarev – 100 back, 51.51
Kyle Falkstrom – 100 breast, 55.53; 200 breast, 2:02.59
Justin Lee – 50 free, 20.85
Jonny Farber – 200 back, 1:50.85
200 medley relay (Ponomarev, Falkstrom, Lee, Cho), 1:31.77

Runner-ups
Jonny Farber – 200 free, 1:43.52
Jonathan Tsang – 200 fly, 1:53.43; 100 fly, 49.74
Ben Cho – 50 free, 21.19
Zein Mahana – 1-meter dive, 262.57; 3-meter dive, 261.08
Tony Ponomarev – 200 back, 1:52.29
Justin Liao – 200 breast, 2:07.92
Kyle Falkstrom – 200 IM, 1:54.01
400 free relay (Lee, Liu, Cho, Olin), 3:09.01

Courtesy: Bucknell Athletics

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Bucknell women’s swimming & diving team defeated host Holy Cross 201-99 at the Hart Center Pool Friday, topping the Crusaders for a seventh-consecutive time. The Bison claimed all but two of the 16 events to open the 2023-24 season 1-0.

Junior Rylie Giles won two events on the evening, touching the wall first in the 100 freestyle (53.74) and the 200 butterfly (2:11.08). Sophomore Kyla Kelly also had a strong opening meet, winning the 100 backstroke and swimming the first leg of Bucknell’s winning 200 medley relay team.

Two rookies posted individual wins in their first collegiate meet, as Kelly Byrne won the 1000 freestyle (10:44.57) and Sydney Dettmann placed first in the 100 butterfly.

Bucknell finished both first and second in four events and went 1-2-3 on the 1-meter board. Meghan Catherwood won the 1-meter dive, followed by first year Natalie Penman and senior Kate Gottwald. Reggie Frias won the 3-meter dive.

The Bison return to action on Saturday when they go up against Boston U. at FitRec Competition Pool at 1:30 p.m.

Event Winners:
100 Freestyle – Rylie Giles (53.74)
200 Freestyle – Caroline McGann (1:56.01)
500 Freestyle – Emma Feld (5:13.32)
1000 Freestyle – Kelly Byrne (10:44.57)
100 Backstroke – Kyla Kelly (58.52)
100 Breaststroke – Liz Dokina (1:06.21)
200 Breaststroke – Hanna Bingley (2:25.98)
100 Butterfly – Sydney Dettmann (58.61)
200 Butterfly – Rylie Giles (2:11.08)
200 IM – Skye Sunderhauf (2:10.87)
200 Freestyle Relay – Virginia Hastings, Megan Leyden, Ashley Piacentino, Kayla Lichtner
200 Medley Relay – Kyla Kelly, Kate Handley, Megan Leyden, Ashley Piacentino (1:49.32)
1-Meter Dive – Meghan Catherwood (236.33)
3-Meter Dive – Reggie Frias (261.98)

1-2-3 Performances:
1-Meter Dive – 1st Meghan Catherwood (236.33), 2nd Natalie Penman (232.28), 3rd Kate Gottwald (231.38)

BOSTON, Mass. – The Bucknell men’s swimming & diving team pulled off a 2-0 weekend by defeating Boston U. 173.5-124.5 on the road Saturday. The Bison won 10 of 16 events and went 1-2-3 in the 500 freestyle.

Alex Crossing and John Gehrig put together particularly strong performances for the Bison, combining for five individual swimming event wins. Crossing took first in both the 500 freestyle and 1000 freestyle. Gehrig, who won two events in Friday’s meet at Holy Cross, touched the wall first in the 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly and 200 IM on Saturday.

Jackson Vinarub won two events as well, taking first place on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. His 289.65 on the 1-meter was the third-best in program history. Vinarub won the 3-meter dive on Friday as well.

Bucknell claimed the top four finishes in the 500 freestyle, as Crossing was followed by Chris Kopac, William Shoemaker and Riley Twiss.

One first year, Drew Greene, earned a win in the 100 freestyle. He was also a member of Bucknell’s winning 400 freestyle relay team along with Chris Kopac, Colin Smith and Chris Fabian.

Bucknell returns to Kinney Natatorium next weekend to host the Bucknell Fall Invite.

Event Winners:

100 Freestyle – Drew Greene (46.60)
200 Freestyle – Chris Kopac (1:42.50)
500 Freestyle – Alex Crossing (2:46.06)
1000 Freestyle – Alex Crossing (9:43.32)
100 Butterfly – John Gehrig (49.74)
200 Butterfly – John Gehrig (1:51.22)
200 IM – John Gehrig (1:53.81)
400 Freestyle Relay – Chris Kopac, Colin Smith, Drew Greene, Chris Fabian (3:07.69)
1-Meter Dive – Jackson Vinarub (289.65)
3-Meter Dive – Jackson Vinarub (262.20)

1-2-3 Finishes:

500 Freestyle – Alex Crossing (4:39.54) 1st, Chris Kopac (4:44.99_ 2nd, William Shoemaker (4:46.41) 3rd