Buffalo Swimming and Diving

Ten UB Teams Over 975 in Latest APR Report - Buffalo Athletics

2011-05-27T05:05:00.000-07:00

As always :).... UB making it happen within it's entire athletic department. Great Job Buffalo!

Go Bulls...!

Ten UB Teams Over 975 in Latest APR Report - Buffalo Athletics

UB Men's Swimming and Diving Announces Awards - Buffalo Athletics

2011-05-24T17:47:00.000-07:00

Yeah boys....! Making moves all year long! Buffalo is here... Look out NCAA!

UB Men's Swimming and Diving Announces Awards - Buffalo Athletics

UB Women's Swimming and Diving Announces Awards - Buffalo Athletics

2011-05-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

Nice work ladies.... A lot of great things to come.... It's our time to make a move! Go Bulls...!

UB Women's Swimming and Diving Announces Awards - Buffalo Athletics

Six Bulls Named as Mid-Major Honorable Mentions - Buffalo Athletics

2011-05-24T17:44:00.000-07:00

Great work Buffalo.... there's more where that came from :) Go Bulls...!

Six Bulls Named as Mid-Major Honorable Mentions - Buffalo Athletics

Meili Carpenter Qualifies For U.S. Olympic Diving Trials - Buffalo Athletics

2011-02-10T09:54:00.000-08:00

Just one of the many athletes making things happen here at The Univeristy at Buffalo! Great Job Meili!

Go Bulls..!!

Meili Carpenter Qualifies For U.S. Olympic Diving Trials - Buffalo Athletics

Bulls, Eagles Split MAC Swim Meets - Buffalo Athletics

2011-01-24T07:41:00.000-08:00

Bulls, Eagles Split MAC Swim Meets - Buffalo Athletics

Buffalo Making things happen at the EMU meet... Makes me excited for our athletes once we give them the rest they deserve! It's gonna be good! Go Bulls...!

Schwippert, Dugan Earn Spots in 2012 Olympic Swim Trials - Buffalo Athletics

2010-09-24T18:05:00.000-07:00

Making it Happen...!! Matt Shwippert (so) and Mike Dugan (fr) making things happen and many many more to come...!! Keep up the great work Buffalo! Go Bulls....!!!

Schwippert,

Save as Draft

Dugan Earn Spots in 2012 Olympic Swim Trials - Buffalo Athletics

University at Buffalo - Swimming & Diving Press Release - Go Bulls!

2010-08-03T07:34:00.000-07:00

University at Buffalo - Swimming & Diving Press Release - Go Bulls!

Once again the University at Buffalo Swimming and Diving Team made things happen on the recruiting trail. This past year we signed 6 swimmers and 1 diver to add to our very young and talented team. The coaching staff pulled guys in from NY, OH, SC and PA. Each one of these athletes will play a vital role in our quest to win a conference championship and send multiple athletes to NCAA's. UB is on the move...!!!

This year's class was the only Mid-American (MAC) School to be recognized by collegeswimming.com. Go Bulls..!

University at Buffalo - Swimming & Diving Press Release - Go Bulls!

2010-06-13T03:44:00.000-07:00

University at Buffalo - Swimming & Diving Press Release - Go Bulls!

Buffalo Bulls Swimming and Diving is pleased to announce the addition of Tiffany Gowens to our coaching staff. Tiffany brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team as she was a standout swimmer for the Bolles School and Texas A&M. While with the Aggies Gowens was a Big 12 Champion and an NCAA All-American in the Distance and Relay events. We are extremely excited about Tiffany's arrival. UB is on the move....!!!

University at Buffalo - Division of Athletics News - Go Bulls!

2010-06-10T06:08:00.000-07:00

Buffalo Swimming and Diving once again hit's a 1000% on APR report! This is the 6th year in a row that Buffalo Swimming has had a grand. Not too many programs in the country, if any, have had this string of success!

Go Bulls...!!!

University at Buffalo - Division of Athletics News - Go Bulls!

University at Buffalo - Swimming & Diving Press Release - Go Bulls!

2010-05-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

University at Buffalo - Swimming & Diving Press Release - Go Bulls!

UB Swimming and Diving Announces 2010-2011 Recruiting Class...!!!

Joining the Buffalo family next year will be 17 athletes from 6 states and Canada. This years class is full of Junior and Senior National qualifiers and a NCSA Junior National Team Member. With the success we had last year and the addition of these 17 athletes the future looks very bright from Buffalo Swimming and Diving!

Go Bulls...!!!

University at Buffalo - Swimming & Diving Press Release - Go Bulls!

2010-05-25T06:28:00.000-07:00

University at Buffalo - Swimming & Diving Press Release - Go Bulls!

Congrat's to Meili Carpenter for being named to ESPN The Magazine Academic All District I University Division 2nd Team for the second year in a row! Way to go Buffalo!

University at Buffalo - Swimming & Diving Press Release - Go Bulls!

2010-05-20T06:29:00.000-07:00

University at Buffalo - Swimming & Diving Press Release - Go Bulls!

The University at Buffalo men's and women's swimming and diving team announced its team awards for the 2009-10 season last week. Head coach Andy Bashor made the following presentations: Meili Carpenter and Jared Heine were selected as the Most Valuable; Alie Schirmers and Zach Rice earned the Most Improved Player Award; Caroline Simmons and Matt Schwippert were named Top Rookies and the Leadership Award went to Laura Powalski and Andrew Tamchyna.
Meili Carpenter

University at Buffalo get's Nationally Recognized by the NCAA

2010-05-13T07:13:00.000-07:00

University at Buffalo - Swimming & Diving Press Release - Go Bulls!

The Bulls were one of 19 NCAA Divison I women's swimming teams to be included on the list! UB was the only MAC (Mid-American Conference) School on the list.

Great job ladies... keep excelling both in and out of the pool.

Meili Carpenter Named All-American After Stand Out Senior Season

2010-04-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

Following her performances at the Women's NCAA Championships in March, senior Meili Carpenter became the first swimmer or diver in the school's Division I history to earn All-American status!

Meili was named All-American honorable mention after placing 11th in the 3-meter diving event and 12th in the 1-meter diving event. The top 8 finishers at the Championships are named All-American, while the 9th-16th place finishers earn All-American honorable mention.

This year's NCAA Championships were the 3rd consecutive for Meili, and by far, her most successful. In 2008, she became the first UB female swimmer or diver to qualify for the Championships. This season, Meili won both the 1-meter and 3-meter events at the MAC Championships and set a MAC record on 3-meter (350.65) on her way to being named Women's MAC Diver of the Year.

Congratulations to Meili!

Buffalo Swimmers & Divers Named to All-MAC Academic Team

2010-04-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

Following a very successful season in the pool, six Buffalo swimmers and divers were named to the All-MAC Academic Team. The MAC honored 32 women and 18 men for their commitment to success in the classroom as well as their dedication in the pool. Consideration for this award is based on the following criteria: minimum of a 3.20 cumulative GPA, participation in at least 50 percent of the team's competitions, and athletic accomplishments during the current season. Freshmen are not eligible for the award.

Sam Palma, a senior from Lancaster, NY, has maintained a 3.85 GPA during her time at UB while majoring in history. She will graduate this May and will be attending graduate school at UB next fall. This marks the second time in her career that Sam has named to the All-MAC Academic Team.

Meili Carpenter, a senior from Boulder, CO, graduated with an undergraduate degree from UB last spring and is currently working towards a graduate degree in science education. Meili is one of 3 female athletes to be named to this team on 3 different occasions.

Andrew Tamchyna, a senior from Newmarket, Ontario, has maintained a 3.79 GPA as he pursues a degree in engineering physics. Andrew will be attending graduate school at the University of Missouri in the fall. He has also been named to the All-Mac Academic Team three times.

Chris Berloth, a sophomore from Ypsilanti, MI, has a 3.93 GPA and is working towards an undergraduate degree in English. This is the first time that Chris has been recognized by the MAC.

Jordan Matthews, a senior from Burnt Hills, NY, will be graduating in May with a degree in mechanical engineering. He has maintained a 3.75 GPA during his time at Buffalo and will be attending the University of Texas in the fall for graduate school.

Connor Vander Zalm, a senior from Kelowna, British Columbia, has maintained a 3.69 GPA and will complete his MBA from UB in the spring of 2011. Connor joins teammate Andrew Tamchyna as part of a select group of seniors who have been named to Academic All-MAC on 3 different occasions.

Coach Bashor Looks Back on the Season

2010-03-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

After a very successful season, Head Coach Andy Bashor looks back on the Men's and Women's MAC Championships.

The Women broke 8 school records on their way to a 5th place team finish at the Championships. The team scored a total of 392 points, the most in school history, while placing 3 individuals on the All-MAC First Team! Here are some highlights:

Senior Meili Carpenter won both the 1-meter and 3-meter events on her way to being named MAC Diver of the Year and setting a MAC record on 3-meter. Freshman Caroline Simmons won the 100 free in a school record time of 49.69. She also placed 2nd in the 50 free (22.86 - School Record) and 8th in the 200 free (1:49.72 - School Record). Sophomore Alie Schirmers placed 3rd in the 400 IM (4:18.98 - School Record), 4th in the 200 IM (2:03.24), and 4th in in the 200 breast (2:15.91 - School Record). The 200 free relay and 400 free relay also set school records!

The Men broke 12 school records on their way to a 2nd place team finish, the highest in school history! Two men were named to the All-MAC First Team and six were named to the All-MAC Second Team, and.....Coach Bashor was named the MAC Swimming Coach of the Year! Here are some highlights:

The team experienced many "firsts" during the Championships including breaking all 5 relay school records! Freshman Matt Schwippert won the 200 back in a school and MAC record time of 1:45.23. He also finished 2nd in the 100 back (48.14; set the School Record leading off the 400 medley relay 48.12) and 2nd in the 100 fly (48.91 - School Record). Freshman Josh Meints set school records in the 100 breast (56.71) and the 200 breast (2:02.60). Senior Zach Ruske broke his own school record in the 200 IM with a time of 1:50.22.

Congratulations on a great season!

Meili Carpenter Propels the Bulls to a 41st Place Finish at the Women's NCAA Championships!

2010-03-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

(An interview with Meili prior to the NCAA Championships...)

Senior Meili Carpenter capped off a fantastic senior season, and collegiate career, by becoming the first Buffalo Bull in school history to score at the NCAA Championships! As a result of her performance, Buffalo scored 11 points and placed 41st at the Championships!

Last Thursday, Meili competed in her first event in West Layafette, Indiana. She finished 12th overall on 1-meter after qualifying 12th in prelims. This was Meili's best finish, up to that point, at the Championships and the first time she had qualified for finals!

Friday proved to be an even better day as Meili once again dove her way into the consolation finals. She finished 11th place overall and improved her score from the prelims. Meili's final collegiate performance came on Saturday when she competed in the Platform event. She placed 20th overall, her best career finish in this event at NCAAs, and a great way to end her career.

Congratulations to Meili!

Buffalo Men Finish in 2nd Place at MAC Championships; Schwippert Breaks MAC Record in 200 Back

2010-03-10T04:25:00.000-08:00

There is nothing like the excitement of a close team race during a championship meet! As 1650 began on Saturday afternoon, there was no doubt that each performance that evening was going to be extremely important. The team had plenty of opportunities based on how they qualified in the morning, but the question still remainded...Would it be enough to stay in 2nd place??? Only time would tell!

The evening began with the 1650. Senior Connor Vander Zalm finished 9th overall with a season best of 16:01.03, while freshman Zach Rice swam to a lifetime best of 16:04.76 on his way to an 11th place finish. The 200 back followed and once again saw 3 Bulls in the top 8. Freshman Matt Schwippert continued his outstanding meet as he won the event in a MAC and school record time of 1:45.23, lowering his time of 1:45.86 from the prelims. Seniors Zach Ruske and Andrew Tamchyna placed 3rd and 6th respectively in their final race as a Bull, leaving their mark on the program as a dynamic backstroke duo over the past 4 years!

The 100 free provided as much excitement as you could expect from a sprint event. Sophomore Simon Proudfoot tied for 8th in prelims and went on the win a swim-off to qualify for the final....which, once again, put 3 Bulls in the final. Jared Heine and Matt Hogan tied for 2nd with a time of 44.95, while Simon improved his position by placing 7th overall. Jared broke the school record in the morning when he posted a time of 44.67! In the consolation final, sophomore Chad Miller placed 2nd (10th overall) with a season best of 45.65.

In the 200 breast, freshman Josh Meints placed 4th overall with a school record time of 2:02.60! Josh was in 6th place at the 150, but battled back to finish ahead of two of the competitors. In the 200 fly, sophomore Chris Berloth also finished 4th as he tied his lifetime best with a time of 1:50.19. Chris was the only team member in the event and definitely stepped up to the challenge!

The final individual event of the meet was 3-meter diving which saw both UB divers qualify for a second round of competition. On Friday night, during the consolation finals, sophomore Colin Patrican (260.95) followed up his 4th place finish on 1-meter with a 14th place finish on 3-meter. Junior Kenny Rhoades finished 6th overall (327.95), improving upon his qualifying score of 305.10.

After doing exactly what they needed to do, the team stood in 2nd place heading into the 400 free relay and would stay there as long as the relay finished...legally! Despite some nerves and a lot of excitement, the relay not only finished but took it to the final touch as they chased down Eastern Michigan. The team of Matt Hogan (45.96), Simon Proudfoot (45.10), Chad Miller (44.59), and Jared Heine (43.95) finished 2nd with a school record time of 2:59.60, and just 17-hundredths behind Eastern!

More School Records Fall as Men Stand in 2nd place Following Day 2 of Championships

2010-03-10T03:42:00.000-08:00

After a very successful morning, the team set themselves up for second most opportunities of any team at the competition. We had 15 individual swims, plus Colin Patrican in the consolation finals of 3-meter diving and 2 relays to complete the evening.

The 200 medley relay led things off as the relay team of Matt Schwippert, Josh Meints, Cory Zorsch, and Andrew Tamchyna placed 3rd with a school record time of 1:30.63, and just 67-hundredths out of 1st place! As the lone respresentive in the event, senior Connor Vander Zalm placed 5th in the 400 IM with a time of 4:00.00. His time of 3:59.21 in the prelims was a lifetime best!

The 100 fly quickly followed and provided the team with 4 scoring opportunities. Freshmen Matt Schwippert and Cory Zorsch qualified in the top 8. Matt broke the school record on his way to a 2nd place finish (48.91), while Cory finished 8th with a time of 50.27. In the consolation final, sophomores Chris Berloth (50.73) and Chad Miller (51.42) finished 11th and 15th respectively, just off of their performances from the prelims.

One of the biggest events of the evening was the 200 free, as 3 Bulls qualified in the top 8 and set the tone for the 800 free relay that would conclude the night. Freshman Matt Hogan placed 2nd overall on his way to breaking the school record (1:38.30), while sophomores Jared Heine and Simon Proudfoot placed 4th and 8th respectively. Jared improved from his morning swim on his way to a personal best of 1:39.32. Simon qualified with a lifetime best of 1:40.27 in the prelims and was just off of that in the finals.

Another school record fell in the 100 breast as freshman Josh Meints qualified with a time of 56.71. Josh placed 5th overall in the evening, just off of his morning swim. Senior Jordan Matthews placed 13th with a season best of 58.10, and was immediately followed by freshman Christian Muller who placed 14th. Christian's prelim swim was a personal best (57.84).

The final 2 events of the evening were the 100 back and the 800 free relay. The Bulls were represented by 3 individuals in the back with Matt Schwippert placing 2nd in a time of 48.14, just 2-hundredths off of the school record he set as the lead-off leg of the 400 medley relay. Seniors Andrew Tamchyna and Zach Ruske both had lifetime bests on the day, and placed 5th and 7th respectively during the finals. The 800 free relay concluded with a 2nd place finish for the Bulls and another school record. The team of Zach Ruske (1:40.89), Simon Proudfoot (1:41.90), Matt Hogan (1:38.07), and Jared Heine (1:39.84) swam to an impressive time of 6:40.70!

After day 2 of the Championships, the team was sitting in 2nd place, 41.5 points behind Eastern Michigan and 19.5 points ahead of Missouri State.....the final day would have to be a big one for the team standings to remain the same! Stay tuned!

Men Make Statement on Day 1 of MAC Championships

2010-03-05T11:59:00.000-08:00

Thursday morning was the start of the Men's MAC Championships at Eastern Michigan. Here is a "short" recap of Day 1:

The finals session began with the 200 free relay. Like the women, the men have been waiting anxiously for several days for the meet to begin. After a very solid preliminary session this morning, we knew that great things could happen if all of the pieces fell into place. The relay team of Simon Proudfoot, Jared Heine, Andrew Tamchyna, and Ryan Smrekar placed 2nd overall and broke the school with a time of 1:21.93!

The first individual event of the day was the 500 free. Freshmen Zach Rice had an outstanding morning swim that qualified him 9th heading into finals. Senior Connor Vander Zalm qualified 8th with a lifetime best 4:32.94. Both men added at night, but were able to carry some of the momentum gained by the performances on the relay.

The 200 IM and 50 free quickly followed. Senior Zach Ruske broke his own school record in the prelims when he posted a time of 1:50.22. Zach finished 4th overall during finals. Freshman Josh Meints qualified 5th, but made a tremendous push during the last 50 tonight to finish 2nd overall with a time of 1:51.28. In the 50 free, Jared Heine (20.66) and Simon Proudfoot (20.86) finaled and took 5th and 8th respectively. The team was represented by Ryan Smrekar (21.16), Andrew Tamchyna (20.99), and Matt Hogan (20.96) in the consolation final.

The 1-meter diving competition came next. Sophomore Colin Patrican dove his way to a 3rd place finish after a tough battle this evening. Junior Kenny Rhoades finished 4th overall after qualifying first during prelims. This was the best performance by Buffalo divers at the MAC Championships in a very long time!

The last event of the evening was the 400 medley relay...and it was worth the wait! Freshman Matt Schwippert led off with a school record leg, swimming to a time of 48.12! Josh Meints followed with a breaststroke split of 55.69. The final 2 legs saw a head-to-head battle with Eastern Michigan and Missouri State. Freshman Cory Zorsch (49.10) and sophomore Jared Heine (44.25) fought to the end, placing 3rd overall and knocking 4 full seconds off of the previous school record!!!! Their time of 3:17.16 was 8-hundredths behind Eastern Michigan and 14-hundredths behind Missouri State. It was an amazing race, full of energy and excitement...a great way to end the evening!

Bulls Win 2 Individual MAC Championships on Final Night of Competition

2010-03-01T10:31:00.001-08:00

On the final night of the Women's MAC Championships, the Bulls won 2 individual MAC championships and set 3 school records.

Junior Jordan Deren opened the evening session with an 8th place finish in the 1650 free. Her time of 16:51.77 was a season best and just off of her school record that she set at last year's championships. The duo of Katelyn Pratt-Collins and Caitlin Reilly led the way in the 200 back. Katelyn placed 6th overall with a time of 2:01.59, while Caitlin posted a time of 2:03.34 for 12th place. Both ladies posted lifetime best times in the prelims.

In perhaps one of the most exciting events of the meet, freshman Caroline Simmons won the 100 free in a school record time of 49.69! Caroline out touched Ohio University senior Chelsey Bower by a mere one-hundredth of a second. The previous school record (50.89) was held by Inger Rooneem and was set in 1998. Junior Jessie Koltz placed 11th overall with a lifetime best time of 50.59.

Sophomore Alie Schirmers broke her second school record of the weekend when she posted a time of 2:15.91 in the 200 breast. Her time was good enough for a 4th place finish overall. Brynn Marecki made a statement as she won the consolation heat of the 200 breast, dropping over a second from her prelim swim. Brynn posted a season best of 2:18.00 on her way to a 9th place finish.

Senior Meili Carpenter won the 3-meter competition with a MAC record score of 350.65! Meili took command of the event during the first round and never looked back. She was in such control that she could have won the event without performing her final dive!

The final event of the Championships was the 400 free relay. The team of Sam Palma, Jessie Koltz, Jordan Deren, and Caroline Simmons broke the school record from last year on their way to a 2nd place finish!

More School Records Fall on Day 3 of Women's Championships

2010-03-01T09:34:00.000-08:00

On a day that brought about more opportunities for great things, the Bulls took advantage of the five individual swimming events. Friday evening started with the 400 IM and a school record performance by sophomore Alie Schirmers. Alie placed 3rd overall with a lifetime best of 4:18.98, breaking the previous record of 4:19.68 set by Jennefer Brankovsky in 2004. Junior Alisa Koopman placed 15th overall in the event and posted a lifetime best in prelims (4:32.01).

The 100 fly followed as sophomore Jessie Koltz and seniors Sam Palma and Emily Day competed in the consolation final. Sam finished in 11th place with a time of 55.97, just off of her prelim time of 55.65. Jessie was just behind with a 13th place finish (56.39), while Emily Day followed up her lifetime best swim (56.60) in prelims with a 16th place finish at night (57.25).

Caroline Simmons broke the school record in the prelims of the 200 free with a time of 1:49.72, and followed up her performance with an 8th place finish in finals. The previous record of 1:50.90 was set by Andrea Lehner in 2007. Junior Jordan Deren placed 14th place with a time of 1:50.98. She posted a personal best in prelims with a time of 1:50.63, under Lehner's previous school record.

The final individual events of the evening were the 100 breast and 100 back. Sophomore Brynn Marecki placed 6th overall (1:03.48) in the 100 breast, just off of her swim from prelims (1:02.75). Freshman Katelyn Pratt-Collins and seniors Caitlin Reilly and Jessica Ballard led the way as all three competed in the consolation final of the 100 back. Jessica won the heat with a lifetime best of 55.76. Katelyn placed 12th with a time of 56.83, followed closely by Caitlin who was 14th (57.25).

The 400 medley relay was the evening's final event. The Bulls placed 4th overall with a time of 3:44.67. The team of Jessica Ballard, Brynn Marecki, Sam Palma, and Caroline Simmons posted a season best time, and missed the school record by less than 4-tenths!

Carpenter Wins MAC Championship; School Records Fall in 50 Free and 200 Free Relay

2010-02-26T13:06:00.001-08:00

Thursday morning's prelim session exceeded expectations as the Bulls posted numerous lifetime best performances and positioned themselves for a record breaking final session. The day's first event, the 500 free, was highlighted by Jordan Deren's 8th place finish (4:53.82). Four of the five preliminary swims by the Bulls in this event were lifetime best performances.

Sophomores Alie Schirmers and Brynn Marecki led the way in the 200 IM. Alie placed 4th overall with a time of 2:03.24, dropping 3 seconds from her previous lifetime best. Brynn placed 14th, with an in-season best prelim swim. In the 50 free, junior Jessie Koltz finished 11th with a personal best 23.29 and freshman Caroline Simmons placed 2nd with a school record time of 22.86. Caroline's time was also a NCAA "B" cut!

The final individual event of the evening was the 1-meter diving competition. Senior Meili Carpenter put the final touches on an outstanding season on 1-meter, where she went undefeated on 1-meter. After qualifying in first place, Meili made things a little interesting. She battled back following a slight miss on her first dive to win the competition and her first MAC Championship! Congrats Meili!

The evening concluded with the 200 free relay. The Buffalo team of Jessie Koltz, Sam Palma, Karly Moore, and Caroline Simmons placed 4th, breaking the school record. Their time of 1:32.92 broke the previous record set last season by nearly a full second!

Stay tune for more updates as the meet continues! GO BULLS!!!!!

Let the Championships Begin...Day 1 of the Women's MAC Championships

2010-02-26T12:31:00.000-08:00

"LUCK IS WHEN PREPARATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY."

Wednesday night was the start of the 2010 Women's MAC Swimming & Diving Championships. It was the first day when the Buffalo women were able to put their "luck" to the test.

After prehaps the longest two hour warm-up in the history of swimming, the clock changed to 7 p.m. and the backstrokers for each of the medley relays entered the water. Within seconds, the 200 medley relay was underway and there was no turning back! The event did not disappoint, as a mere 6-tenths of a second separated the top 4 teams. The team of Jessica Ballard, Brynn Marecki, Jessie Koltz, and Caroline Simmons placed 4th with a time of 1:40.82. Although the Bulls were looking to repeat as conference champions, it was definitely a great start to the meet. The winning time of 1:40.20 fell short of the MAC record set by Buffalo last season.

Following a 30 minute break, it was time for the 800 free relay. After the excitement of the medley relay, it was hard to match the intensity that came from the fast paced relay, but the 800 would not take a back seat. There were several races within the race itself, including those for school records. The relay team of Jessica Ballard, Jordan Deren, Alie Schirmers, and Logan Mason fell just short of breaking the school record set last season.

Congrats to the Bulls...and let the LUCK continue!

Buffalo Women Gear Up For MAC Championships

2010-02-23T18:58:00.000-08:00

With the MAC Championships beginning on Wednesday, the Buffalo Women's team headed to Oxford, Ohio today. After weeks and months of demanding training both in and out of the pool, the team has enjoyed their much deserved rest over the past two weeks as tapered began and the final stages of fine tuning were completed.

After arriving in Oxford this afternoon and checking into the hotel, the team headed to the pool for a loosen-up swim. The atmosphere is already one of excitement and anticipation as each team took advantage of the opportunity to "remove the travel". It was nice to see "old" friends and former club team members, while showing a lot of school pride.

Tomorrow night is the start of a weekend that compares to few these ladies will ever experience in their athletic careers. Stay tuned for more....

GO BULLS!

Senior Perspectives - Kevin Song

2010-02-10T05:52:00.000-08:00

Kevin Song:
"I must say that the last 4 years have been full of great memories and moments, and I would not trade this UB Swimming experience for any other. As much as I look forward to growing fat and lazy after MAC's, over spring break and onwards, I will miss being a part of this team and being with such a great group of people. From the good moments, like beating Miami, academic successess, swimming wheels, posting best time sheets, dropping the hammer, and playing shree....to the difficult and challenging times, it has all been a very educational and rewarding experience. I am sure this experience will help me more than I know it in the coming years, and bring back many fond memories. This team has come a long way and accomplished much since I first joined, and this is just the beginning. I am glad to have been part of it all, and I am excited for the success the future will surely bring to the team. Go Bulls!"

Kevin

Senior Perspectives - Jessica Ballard

2010-02-09T04:54:00.001-08:00

"Since I've been at UB, I've had a lot of great times, just as many hard times, and I've learned more than I need to know. Although, when I look back on my four years here, all I can seem to think of is what I will be missing out on in the years to come.

My first two years weren't my best; not marked by any unfortunate events, but not marked by any good ones. It was some time during my third year, when I was pushed (forcefully...) by coaches and driven by my teammates, that I remembered how to swim, and remembered how much I love it.

I did not find any degree of closure in writing this. I am ready to sleep in, to go to class dry, to go out on Friday nights, and to spend an extra fifteen hours a week being bored out of my mind. But there are many more things that I am not ready to give up. In leaving, I am overcome most, not by relief or excitement or extreme ecstasy, but by jealously. Now more than ever, I want four more years. This team has endless amount of potential and will continue to excel. I wish I could be a part of it."

Jessica

Buffalo Women Honor Seniors in Final Home Competition

2010-02-08T09:35:00.000-08:00

It was a day to honor the 10 seniors on the Women's Swimming & Diving team. Prior to the start of their last meet at UB, the coaches, team, family, and friends took several moments to recognize each of the seniors. These young ladies began their time at Buffalo as a class of 10 and will finish their swimming career as a closer, more experienced class of 10. An impressive feat, to say the least!

The meet began with a season-best performance by Jessica Ballard, Brynn Marecki, Jessie Koltz, and Caroline Simmons in the 200 medley relay (1:44.68). The fast swims didn't stop as both teams continued to post impressive performances. Senior Jessica Ballard posted season-best times in the 100 back (57.70) and 200 back (2:05.02), winning the 200 by 5 one-hundredths of a second. Caroline Simmons won the 50 free (23.64), the 100 free (51.60), and was a member of the winning 200 free relay. Jessie Koltz placed 2nd in the 50 free behind Simmons and won the 100 fly (57.10), while swimming on both winning relays.

Seniors Meili Carpenter and Ursula Jeske went 1-2 on both boards. Meili broke her school record on 3-meter (347.48) for the 3rd time this season. She also earned a score of 324.59 on 1-meter. Ursula posted scores of 210.37 on 3-meter and 195.37 on 1-meter.

Congratulations to our seniors (pictured from left to right): Emily Day, Sam Eckert, Jessica Ballard, Ursula Jeske, Laura Powalski, Caitlin Reilly, Sam Palma, Kim Dale, Meili Carpenter, and Ashley Schaffert.

Men Finish Dual Meet Season at Penn State

2010-02-08T03:07:00.000-08:00

The UB Men's team finished the dual meet season on Friday against Penn State. This meet marked the first time in recent history that the Bulls have competed against a Big Ten team in a dual meet.

The Nittany Lions presented a great challenge as the team headed into the final weeks of preparation for the MAC Championships. Jared Heine posted a season-best time in the 50 free (21.47), taking 2nd place. Senior Zach Ruske took second in the 200 IM (1:55.43), while freshman Matt Schwippert had a season-best in the 200 back with a time of 1:50.82.

Divers Colin Patrican and Kenny Rhoades stepped up during the diving events, claiming a 1-2 finish on both boards. Colin placed 1st on 1-meter with a score of 286.20, while Kenny won the 3-meter competition with a season-best score of 346.45.

Senior Perspectives - Sam Eckert

2010-02-04T07:18:00.001-08:00

Sam Eckert:
"I can't believe that I'm actually writing my senior blog and I'm sure my coaches and teammates are surprised as well. The first week of freshman year I got lapped in the 50 meter pool by everyone and didn't know how to use paddles. I had completely forgotten how to race and train after taking 9 months off of swimming just because "I didn't want to swim". I almost quit.

Going into sophomore year, I thought it would be my last. I wasn't very good and I didn't think that swimming was going to benefit me in any way. That year, the men's and women's teams got combined and we brought on 2 new coaches. I was lucky enough to move from the sprint group to the mid-distance group with Aaron Bell (the best and worst things of my college swimming career). I began swimming much better that year and learned how to use paddles :) I went into the MAC Championships thinking it was going to be my last championships ever. Surprisingly, I did way better than I thought I would so I decided to stay for another year.

Junior year started out rough. Once again, I almost quit. My coaches talked me through it and I made it through another successful season.

And now senior year. It would be stupid to quit now after making it so far and overcoming so many challenges and meeting so many great people. I am one of ten girls who have made it through the last four years of college swimming together and I am extremely proud of myself that I can be a part of that group. Looking back on the last four years, I would have never predicted that I would even make it, let alone learn more about myself and life. I have to thank my coaches, Andy, Aaron, Courtney, Mike, and James, who have spent so much time and energy picking me up when I'm down and encouraging me when I wanted to quit. I couldn't have done it without them. I have always felt "out of my league" swimming on UB's team, but I have been able to overcome those feelings and fit right in. YAY!"

GO BULLS!
Sam

Senior Perspectives - Meili Carpenter

2010-02-04T06:11:00.000-08:00

Meili Carpenter:
"Thank you to each of my "dads" for keeping me in the race."

--Meili

Senior Perspectives - Emily Day

2010-02-03T05:39:00.000-08:00

Emily Day:
"When asked to reflect on my four years as a student-athlete at the University at Buffalo, I could only think of one way to do it: Comparing it to the 200 freestyle. This race for me has been a learning experience in itself as well as my college career.

The first 50, a lot like freshman year. The excitement behind the blocks getting ready to race, thinking you know everything there is to know about it. There is nothing you want to do more than hop up, hear the beep set off and dive in, much like my anticipation for that first year of college. I was ready to go get away and experience "life". You hit the water, however, and wheels are spinning, kick is out of control and you find out how quickly you were not quite as prepared as you thought. Freshman year for me had its ups and downs but by keeping a steady eye on the coaching staff on the side, I was able to stick with that first 50.

Second 50: Because of that first 50, you realize how fast you went out. You take it back, slow it down, compensating for that first crazy 50. Sophomore year, I learned from what I had done as a freshman and settled down. Maybe even held back a bit but I wanted to make sure. That year felt good but I knew there was more to me that what I left in the pool. I was ready to try again!

Then that fourth turn hit, OUCH! Who likes the third 50 in the 200 free? But that is where the true athletes shine. For this 50, for this year, I have to split it. The first 25 was out. I breathed every stroke, I lost it. My junior year, I had a knee injury that took me out of the season. I had admitted defeat, let the injury get the best of me but when I hit that 5th turn, I knew things had to change. The race wasn't over. In fact, I had a whole 75 left. That summer, I did my best to get back to where I needed to be so by my senior year, that 6th turn, that last 50, I could go ALL OUT!

And so far, I have done it all to make senior year the best I could. With three weeks left, I have never felt so excited to finish out my career as a Buffalo Bull. What the coaches have taught me in and out of the the pool, I would have never gotten anywhere else. This last 50 will be my strongest and greatest. 'Everyone can bring it home.' It's time I drop the hammer!"

Emily Day

Ballard Named UB Female Athlete of the Week

2010-02-02T09:25:00.000-08:00

Senior Jessica Ballard was named UB Female Athlete of the Week on Monday following her performances against St. Bonaventure and Bowling Green over the weekend. Jessica won the 200 breast against St. Bonaventure, as well as the 200 medley relay. On Saturday against Bowling Green, Jessica won the 200 free (1:53.33) and the 400 IM (4:29.13). In both swims, she posted season best times. She also was a member of the winning 200 medley relay, where she went 27.1 on the backstroke leg.

Congratulations Jessica!

Senior Perspectives - Kim Dale

2010-02-02T06:19:00.000-08:00

Kim Dale:
"These past four years didn't go as I had planned. There weren't any short cuts swimming at UB, and more times than not, the only way to get where I wanted to go was the long way around. I messed up and fell down, I tried things that didn't work and sometimes picked the wrong answer. It wasn't easy. But, despite all of that, the difficulty of what I did might just be the reason why I enjoyed it so much.

To keep this from sounding like an acceptance speech at an award show I won't spend too much time thanking everyone, but I couldn't have become who I am today without the people in my life now. My parents and sisters, first and foremost, who never stopped supporting me...and never hung up the phone when I called making ridiculous claims that I would fail out of nursing school, get kicked off the swim team or that I was going to drown in the pool. Equally important, I want to thank my teammates and coaches for pushing me farther than I thought I could go, encouraging me when I thought I couldn't keep going and for their humor in both good and bad times. Additionally, I want to thank my friends in the nursing department, who befriended me despite my chlorinated smell and me being either half asleep in class or hyped up on caffeine.

I have met so many wonderful people from all over, gotten so many diverse opportunities and my whole life changed because of that. These were some of the best times of my life and I got to wake up every morning smiling because of what I got to do here at UB and the people I got the chance to meet. I truly believe that I am the luckiest person alive."

Kim

Senior Perspectives - Laura Powalski

2010-02-01T08:02:00.000-08:00

Laura Powalski:
"Over my four years on the UB Swimming & Diving team, there have been several changes and it seems each one has been for the better. We came into a women's only team freshmen year. By sophomore year, we were a combined team with a five person coaching staff. My sophomore year saw several MAC wins and an exciting MAC meet at home where our athletic director came in with a half blue-half white head. By junior year, the women's team saw the first ever MAC relay first place. Now, as a senior, I see this team and the transformation it has taken these years. We are recruiting outstanding athletes and have the strongest men and women's team this university has ever seen. This would not have been possible without the coaching staff and athletes that are a part of this team.

Continued success in this program is inevitable because when people come into this atmosphere, they want to stay and be a part of it. The ten girls that joined this program four years ago get to leave it together this February competing for a top four spot for the first time ever at the MAC Championships. Being a part of the magic was one of the best experiences I could have asked for. Magic - that's what it is.

This team has accomplished so much over the past four years, and I know it will continue in the future. As the season ends, I am sad that my fourteen year swim career is over, but I would not have changed my decision to be a part of UB's program. This is the best way to end because I have so many wonderful memories and am connected to really amazing people.

I want to thank you all for the past four years...Coaches - You guys created the best atmosphere for success. Juniors, Sophomores, and Freshmen - Thank you for these years together; I will miss you, and I know you guys will do great things. My Seniors - You created the dynamic of this team, and I thank each of you for shaping my life and showing me what it is like to be surrounded by passionate, people everyday."

Thank you so much - I will never forget the magic,
Laura

UB Women Secure Winning Record in the MAC with a Win Over Bowling Green

2010-01-31T12:16:00.000-08:00

The women's team competed at home on Saturday night for the first time this semester. After having several meets on the road in the past 3 weeks, it was time to experience the benefits of a little "home cooking". With a MAC record of 3-2 and 2 conference meets remaining, a win on Saturday would secure a winning record for the 2nd consecutive season and for only the 2nd time since Buffalo joined the MAC in 1998!

As coaches we left out the history lesson prior to the meet and told them to step up to the challenge, to surprise themselves. The team did just that! The meet began with a 1-2 finish in the 200 medley relay. There was no slowing down, as the team won 14 of the 16 events.

There were many standout performances, but here are a few highlights: Senior Jessica Ballard won the 200 free, 400 IM, and was a member of the winning 200 medley relay team. Junior Jordan Deren won the 1650 free and the 500 free. Freshman Katelyn Pratt-Collins won the 100 and 200 back, and was a member of the 2nd place 200 medley relay team. Sophomore Alie Schirmers won the 100 breast with a lifetime best swim and placed 2nd in the 400 IM. Junior Jessie Koltz won the 50 free while swimming on the winning 200 medley and 400 free relays.

Bulls Take Down St. Bonaventure

2010-01-31T11:31:00.000-08:00

The Bulls traveled to St. Bonaventure on Friday as we continue to tune-up for the upcoming conference championships. Both the men and women picked up victories on road, with standout performances by several individuals.

The women jumped out to an early lead with a 1-2 finish in the 200 medley relay and looked back. Senior Meili Carpenter won the 1-meter event with a score of 344.10, breaking her own school record and continuing her undeated season in the event. She also won the 3-meter event with a score 330.75. Individual event winners include Alisa Koopman in the 1000 free, Caroline Simmons in the 200 free, Brynn Marecki in the 200 IM, Sam Palma tied in the 50 free, Jordan Deren in the 200 fly, Jessie Koltz in the 100 free, and Alie Schirmers in the 500 free.

The men experienced a much closer meet, trailing until the 9th event of the meet. The 1-2-3 finish by Matt Schwippert, Zach Ruske, and Andrew Tamchyna in the 200 back gave the Bulls a lead that we would not give up. The team was led by senior Connor Vander Zalm, who won the 1000 free and 500 free, and freshman Matt Schwippert, who won the 200 IM and 200 back. Sophomore Chris Berloth won the 200 fly, while Kenny Rhoades won the 3-meter diving event.

Senior Perspectives - Sam Palma

2010-01-31T10:47:00.000-08:00

Sam Palma:
"The memories that I will take with me from the UB swim team are all about the people. I have spent the greater part of my four years here swimming in the far end of the pool. The light isn't as bright and there is one jet that is so powerful that if you swim into it, it will blast you in the other direction. This is normally where the sprinters swim. We have easy access to the power towers, so at any moment we can strap-in and see who can pull the heaviest bucket the fastest. I have had the best time in the other end of the pool and running off of one meter, usually while distance does a fly set :)

The sprinters are a special type of people and are usually responsible for making me laugh so hard that it's nearly impossible to swim the set correctly; especially when Andy breaks out a "That's what she said". We compete with one another, the freshmen boys make whale calls (yes really), I have been called a werewolf on multiple occasions, act totally gangsta, and generally make Andy wonder how old we actually all are.

I have learned that it's the little things, those rare moments of pure joy (even at 6 a.m., thanks to Andrea Scharf) that make things special. This team has given me something to look back at and smile on for the rest of my life."

DO WORK
Sam Palma

Senior Perspectives - Caitlin Reilly

2010-01-29T07:58:00.000-08:00

Caitlin Reilly:
"A lot has changed since my freshman year, but I couldn't imagine being in a better place than where I am today. When looking at universities four years ago, I was definitely hoping for a program with a joint team, and so the combining of the Men and Women's program after my freshman year was great news for me. Not only did it mean getting to race the boys, but it also meant the addition of Aaron as the new mid-distance coach, as well as the GA position, which has been held by two awesome people, Mike and James. Being a part of Andy's first graduating class here at UB, and having Courtney there every step of the way, has been an amazing experience. But certainly the most incredible thing about my time here is coming in as a freshman with nine other wonderful girls, and all ten of us making it the whole way - an incredible feat! To be apart of such a talented and dedicated class, on both the men and women's side, has made these last four years unforgettable.

Although my college career has undoubtly been filled with some of the best times of my life, my sophomore year was also a very difficult time for me because of a personal family loss, and if it wasn't for the support of my coaches and teammates, I don't know how I would have ever made it through. This team has come to mean so much to me and I'm really excited to see all the great things to come over the next few years! I will be forever thankful for the opportunities I have been given here at UB and I can't wait for MACs!

Go Bulls! Let's Get Some."

Caitlin

Senior Perspectives - Ashley Schaffert

2010-01-27T07:25:00.000-08:00

Ashley Schaffert:
"My experience on the UB Swimming and Diving team the last four years has been a very rewarding one. Not only was I blessed with great teammates and coaches all the way through, but the experience has made me grow up and learn many things about myself. I don't think I would have enjoyed my college experience as much had I not been a part of this team. The hard work I have put in has translated over to academics as well. My teammates deserve most of the credit in my great experience here. Being on a team that is so close with each other has made my time here fun and memorable, even through the tough times. The coaching staff has been supportive and learning so much from my coaches, I am walking away a stronger person ready for what the future may bring."

Ashley :)

Freshman Josh Meints Named UB Male Athlete of the Week

2010-01-26T06:58:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to freshman Josh Meints for being named the UB Male Athlete of the Week following his performances against Miami on Saturday. Josh won the 100 breast (58.79), 200 breast (2:08.43), 200 IM (1:55.45), and was a member of the winning 200 medley relay team. All three of his individual swims were in-season bests and helped lead the team to a win over the Redhawks and it's first winning record in the MAC since the 1999-2000 season.

Josh is the first member of the men's team to be recognized this season. Congratulations Josh!

Senior Perspectives - Zach Ruske

2010-01-26T06:47:00.001-08:00

Zach Ruske:
"I have had a great time swimming for UB. I have accomplished more in the four years I've been here than I ever thought possible. I would not have had the success in the pool and in the classroom without the support of my coaches, teammates, and entire athletic administration. There are many memorable moments that I have had and shared with my teammates, from soap fights in the showers to beating Miami for the first time (Jan. 23rd). It has not hit me that there are only two dual meets left in my entire swimming career. I know it will be a very exciting yet sad day.

I have grown and learned so much from my time at UB. I'm confident that I will be able to use what I have learned at UB in the next chapter of my life. I'm looking forward to spending the next few weeks of the season with my teammates, training hard and having fun, while getting ready for the MAC Championships. I never thought I would be in the position I am today - Swimming for a Division I team, winning conference championships, having a coach who believes in my ability, and teammates who care for one and another like family. I have truly cherished my time with the UB Swimming & Diving program. If there's anything to be taken away from the four years I've been here it's to trust your instincts and believe in yourself!"

GO BULLS!
- Zach Ruske

Senior Perspectives - Connor Vander Zalm

2010-01-25T14:57:00.001-08:00

Connor Vander Zalm:
"I have had a great time with the University at Buffalo swim team over the past four years. Being a student-athlete has been a constantly changing experience. From being a freshman, learning and growing from teammates and new experiences, to the upperclassman responsibilities and leadership positions. Our team has been growing and developing over the past few years to the point that we are in the battle for the top position in the conference. While we have been recruiting and training for success in the future, our conference has gone through changes that seem to have finally settled on something great. Our specific class has gone through so many changes and shifts, that I feel I am more prepared to deal with adverse situations in the future, especially thanks to help and support from coaches and teammates. I've a lot of memorable moments (and times that I have trouble remembering) with friends that swim or have swum with Buffalo.

What I think will stand out the most for me in the future is beating Miami today (Jan. 23rd). We went from our freshmen year struggling to beat Ball State to beating Miami, seriously competing against Eastern Michigan, and setting our sites for fast newcomers to the conference. I am excited for our team and what we can accomplish by the end of the season. We are on pace to have a great conference meet, and we will be ready for the last two dual meets we have against St. Bonaventure and Penn State. I am proud to have swam my college swimming career with this team and I look forward to seeing what else Buffalo can accomplish."

Good luck,
Connor Vander Zalm

Senior Perspectives - Andrew Tamchyna

2010-01-25T10:12:00.000-08:00

As the season nears it's end, we wanted to recognize our seniors and allow them to reflect on their experiences at Buffalo. Over the next several days, we will share their stories. We hope you enjoy!

Andrew Tamchyna:
"The past four years at Buffalo have been quite an experience, to say the least. Being a student-athlete at the collegiate level has proven quite the learning experience, but being able to continue swimming while pursuing my undergraduate degree was a treat all the way through. The nerves before every race, and the hard, time-consuming training all year long, was all worth it just for the feeling of standing on the podium at the end of the season, knowing I have gone faster than I ever thought I was capable of. In a few weeks, I will have one final shot, and no matter the outcome, I know I can walk away thinking I'm proud of my accomplishments swimming for UB.

The whole swim team has become much like a family away from home for me. I have grown very close with many of my fellow teammates, and have truly enjoyed spending the vast majority of my time with them. From training trips to MAC Championships, every moment has been a blast. It'll be difficult having to say good-bye to everyone this year."

- Andrew

UB Men Beat Miami on Senior Day

2010-01-25T07:21:00.001-08:00

On a day when the 6 seniors on the UB Men's team were recognized for their commitment and success, the entire team pulled together to beat MAC rival Miami in convincing fashion. Prior to the meet, seniors Jordan Matthews, Kevin Song, Connor Vander Zalm, Zach Ruske, Andrew Tamchyna, and Mike McDowell (pictured above from left to right) were introduced by members of the team and honored by all who attended Saturday's meet.

The meet began with a win in the 200 medley relay. Matt Schwippert, Josh Meints, Cory Zorsch, and Jared Heine finished with a season best time of 1:33.71. Senior Connor Vander Zalm won the first individual event, the 1650 free, in a season best 16:18.86, and followed with a win in the 500 free. Freshman Josh Meints was the only 3-event winner. Besides swimming the breaststroke leg of the medley relay, Josh won the 100 breast, 200 breast, and 200 IM. Other individual event winners were senior Zach Ruske in the 200 back, freshman Matt Hogan in the 100 free, sophomore Simon Proudfoot in the 50 free, freshman Cory Zorsch in the 100 fly, and sophomore Colin Patrican on 1-meter.

Saturday's win over Miami gives the Men's team a winning record in the MAC for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. Congratulations!

UB Women Make Statement Against Akron

2010-01-25T05:11:00.000-08:00

The UB Women's team returned to competition last Friday when they traveled to the University of Akron. It was the first MAC meet for the team since early November and the women were looking forward to seeing how they stacked up against a much improved Akron team. The meet turned out to be one of the most exciting of the season, with the Bulls coming out on top by a score of 158-140.

The meet began with the Bulls winning the 400 medley relay in a season best time of 3:51.10. Jordan Deren followed with a win in the 1000 free. The score of the meet continued to go back and forth after key performances by members of both teams. Here are some of the highlights: Brynn Marecki and Alie Schirmers combined for a 1-2 finish in the 100 breast and 200 breast. Freshman Dani Adank placed 2nd in the 200 fly with a lifetime best of 2:07.4. Caroline Simmons and Jessie Koltz finished 1-2 in the 100 free, while senior Meili Carpenter continued to dominate on the boards. She won 1-meter and 3-meter, and reset her own pool record on 3-meter.

With only two events to go, the meet was tied at 131. Senior Jessica Ballard lead the way in the 200 IM, winning in a season best time of 2:07.42. Alie Schirmers finished 2nd in the event, and Brynn Marecki was 4th. The 200 free relay did not disappoint as the team of Jessie Koltz, Sam Palma, Karly Moore, and Caroline Simmons out touched Akron to win the event and the meet.

Team Begins Semester with 2 Wins on the Road

2010-01-19T06:19:00.000-08:00

The first weekend of competition this semester for the UB Swimming & Diving team ended with victories against Niagara University and Binghamton University.

Saturday's meet at Niagara was highlighted by several performances including wins by senior Emily Day in the 100 fly, junior Alisa Koopman in the 200 IM, freshman Logan Mason in the 500 free, and senior Sam Eckert in the 50 free. These were their first individual wins of the season....Congratulations! The men won 11 of the 13 events including both relays. Notable performances include wins by freshmen Zach Rice in the 1000 free, Josh Meints in the 50 free, Matt Schwippert in the 500 free, Cory Zorsch in the 100 back, and Matt Hogan in the 100 breast. The meet provided the freshmen class with several great opportunities to step up and lead the team.

On Monday, the team traveled to Binghamton for a much anticipated competition, especially for the men's team who has had several close meets against the Bearcats in recent years. Both the men and the women showed up ready to swim and made a statement early in the meet. The Bulls swept the relays for the second consecutive meet. Outstanding individual performances include Meili Carpenter on 1-meter and 3-meter, Alisa Koopman in the 1000 free, Jordan Deren in the 200 free and 500 free, Dani Adank in the 200 fly, and a tie in the women's 50 free between Caroline Simmons and Jessie Koltz. The men were lead by Connor Vander Zalm in the 500 free and 1000 free, Josh Meints in the 200 IM and 200 breast, Chris Berloth in the 200 fly, and Matt Schwippert in the 200 back.

You can check out the full results on our website: www.buffalobulls.com

More from Florida...

2010-01-13T04:43:00.000-08:00

Practice is over...time to go back to the hotel! Another great workout!

Seniors Jessica Ballard and Connor Vander Zalm hanging out on the wall after warm-up.

Head Coach Andy Bashor working with the sprint group during one of our afternoon, short course practices.

Hitting the Beach - Dryland in Florida

2010-01-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

During our time in Florida, we took advantage of the beach as we changed up dryland. Our dryland workouts consisted of a circuit of 5-6 exercises followed by some running relays in the sand. Check out the first exercise from Friday's dryland session....

Training Trip....Bulls travel to Ft. Lauderdale

2010-01-11T07:51:00.000-08:00

After a week away in Ft. Lauderdale, the team is back in Buffalo and preparing for the start of the Spring semester. It was a cold week in Florida, but one that included a lot of great training and time together as a team. We will be adding more pictures and videos as the week continues, but here are a few to get you started. We hope you enjoy!

The team getting ready for practice on Friday afternoon....by far the warmest day we had during our time in Florida.

Andy and James discussing the details of practice.

Sunrise at the pool...seeing the sun was a sign of warmer things to come each day!
One of our last mornings at Pine Crest. We trained long course in the mornings and short course in the afternoons. It was nice to mix things up!

Coach Bashor Talks About The Season

2010-01-02T10:45:00.001-08:00

Head Coach Andy Bashor talks about the first half of the 2009-10 season, including how the team has been training up to this point and how the men's and women's teams have grown together over the past 3 seasons.

Carpenter Repeats as MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week

2009-12-15T04:02:00.000-08:00

Senior Meili Carpenter was named MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week for the second consecutive week following her performances at the Zippy Invitational at the University of Akron on Decemeber 4-6. On the opening day of the meet, Meili won the women's 1-meter competition with a score of 311.45. In the process, she broke both the meet and pool records while being the only woman in the event to score over 300 points. She followed her performance on 1-meter with an impressive 1st place finish on 3-meter with a score of 316.65.

Congratulations Meili and Go Bulls!

Marecki Named UB Female Athlete of the Week

2009-12-10T05:32:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to sophomore Brynn Marecki for being named the UB Female Athlete of the Week for the second time this season. Brynn placed 1st in the 100 breast, 2nd in the 200 breast, and 4th in the 200 IM at the Zippy Invitational at the University of Akron last weekend. Byrnn was also a member of the women's 200 medley relay team that won the event with a meet and pool record.

This marks the 5th time this year that a member of the Women's Swimming & Diving team has earned this award.

Bulls Claim Second Place...Congratulations Bulls!

2009-12-10T04:50:00.000-08:00

The Akron Invitational concluded on Sunday evening with the men and women taking home 2nd place finishes. It was the highest team finish ever for the women at this meet, leaving them just points behind defending champion Ohio. The men were unable to defend their team title, but posted a higher team score than last year, showing how much they have improved in just a few short months.

The evening began with the 1650 free in which Jordan Deren placed 2nd overall with an impressive time of 17:15.95. Amanda Reall and Alisa Koopman finished 13th and 15th respectively in the event as well. Senior Jessica Ballard won the consolation heat with a time of 2:04.87, an in-season best time for her. Caroline Simmons placed 3rd in the 100 free (51.38) while Sam Palma finished 7th in the same event with a time of 52.94. Brynn Marecki placed 2nd in the 200 breast (2:22.33) and Logan Mason placed 9th in the 200 fly (2:10.28). The final event of the meet was the 400 free relay. The team of Jessica Ballard, Jordan Deren, Sam Palma and Caroline Simmons finished 4th.

Connor Vander Zalm began the session with a 3rd place finish in the men's 1650 free with a season best time of 16:22.98. The 200 back was one of the team's most impressive individual events of the weekend as Zach Ruske, Andrew Tamchyna, and Matt Schwippert finished 1st-2nd-5th. The Bulls also had 3 swimmers in the final heat of the 100 free. Sophomores Jared Heine, Simon Proudfoot, and Chad Miller combined for a 5th-6th-8th place finish. The team's strong showing in the 100 free meant great things for the 400 free relay, which placed 2nd overall.

Records Fall at Akron Invite

2009-12-10T04:27:00.000-08:00

After the second day of competition, the Buffalo women stood in 3rd place while the men maintained a strong hold on 2nd place. The evening was filled with record breaking performance in almost every event, including the women's 200 medley relay which began the night. The relay team of Jessica Ballard, Brynn Marecki, Sam Palma, and Caroline Simmons broke the meet and pool record in a winning time of 1:44.92. Other outstanding performances on the women's side include Alie Schirmer's 2nd place finish in the 400 IM (4:31.73), Sam Palma's 3rd place finish in the 100 fly (56.61), Jordan Deren's 4th place finish in the 200 free (1:52.82), Caroline Simmons' 6th place finish in the 200 free (1:53.78), Brynn Marecki's win in the 100 breast (1:04.07), and Meili Carpenter's win in the 3-meter diving event with a score of 316.65.

The men were not to be outdone as they continued to make their presence known on day 2. The relay team of Matt Schwippert, Josh Meints, Cory Zorsch, and Chad Miller started the evening with a 3rd place finish in the 200 medley relay (1:34.03). Seniors Zach Ruske and Connor Vander Zalm finished 5th and 6th respectively in the 400 IM. Other impressive performances came from Cory Zorsch in the 100 fly (51.51; 8th place), Simon Proudfoot in the 200 free (1:43.94; 9th place), Josh Meints in the 100 breast (59.37; 9th place), and the backstroke combo of Andrew Tamchyna (51.35; 2nd place) and Matt Schwippert (51.62; 3rd) in the 100. On the diving boards, Kenny Rhoades and Colin Patrican finished 1st-2nd on 1-meter!

Bulls Get Off to a Great Start at the Zippy Invite!

2009-12-08T06:48:00.000-08:00

After Day 1 of competition at the Akron Invitational, the Buffalo women stood in 4th place while the men were in 2nd.

Friday's finals session began with the 200 free relay. The women placed 2nd behind Ohio with a time of 1:35.57. Jordan Deren placed 4th overall in the 500 free, while Emma Miller, Amanda Reall, and Kim Dale each scored in the event's bonus consolation heat. Sophomores Brynn Marecki and Alie Schirmers teamed up for a 4th-7th finish in the 200 IM. Freshmen Karly Moore and Katelyn Pratt-Collins scored in the event as well, posting season best times. The final individual swimming event of the day was the 50 free. Caroline Simmons tied for 1st place with Akron's Steph Zielinski. Her time of 23.46 is the 4th fastest in school history! Meili Carpenter won the women's 1-meter final with a score of 311.45, setting a meet and pool record in the process! Senior Ursula Jeske placed 8th overall.

The men began the evening with a 4th place finish in the 200 free relay. Senior Connor Vander Zalm finished 10th overall in the 500 free with a season best time of 4:42.15. Zach Ruske placed 4th in the 200 IM, while freshman Josh Meints won the consolation final and sophomore Chris Berloth won the bonus consolation final. All three men posted season best times. In the 50 free, the Bulls saw 5 team members place in the event including a 7th place finish by Simon Proudfoot. On the boards, sophomore Colin Patrican won the 3-meter event with a score of 287.55. Kenny Rhoades followed up his performances at the Wildcat Invite with a 3rd place finish in Akron. In the evening's final event, the 400 medley relay team placed 4th.

Bulls Head to Akron for Invitational

2009-12-02T14:49:00.001-08:00

The Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving team will be traveling to Akron this weekend for a 3-day invitational hosted by the University of Akron. The annual Zippy Invitational is designed to model the MAC Championship format and provides the athletes with an unique opportunity to compete in a prelim-final meet at the midway point of the season. Each swimmer will compete in 3 individual events with the possibility of swimming on 4 of 5 relays. On the diving side, both 1-meter and 3-meter will be contested.

The team has been working hard in and out of the water and we are looking forward to see many great performances this weekend. Stay tuned for results and updates!

Good luck Bulls!

Carpenter Named MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week

2009-12-01T07:47:00.000-08:00

Senior Meili Capenter was recently named the Mid-American Conference's Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Week following her performances at the Wildcat Invitational in Tucson, Arizona.

Meili is a graduate student in Science Education and has maintained a 3.77 GPA. She won the 1-meter competition at the Wildcat Invite and placed 3rd in hte 3-meter championship final. Meili's 1-meter score of 301.20 was the only score above 300 points and placed her ahead of divers from BYU, Stanford, New Mexico, Northern Arizona, and Arizona State.

The MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week honor is presented to a MAC male and female student-athlete who has a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and performs well during the week's competition. The winners are selected by the Conference's faculty athletic representatives.

CONGRATULATIONS MEILI!

Buffalo Divers Make a Statement at Wildcat Invitational

2009-12-01T07:34:00.000-08:00

Junior Kenny Rhoades and Senior Meili Carpenter traveled to Tucson, Arizona prior to Thanksgiving to compete in the Wildcat Invite at the University of Arizona. The 3-day competition provided both athletes with the opportunity to perform against some of the best collegiate divers in the country.

During the first day of competition, Meili placed 3rd on 3-meter with a final round score of 289.00. Kenny placed 12th overall with a consolation final round score of 273.30. The women's 1-meter competition turned out to be one of the most exciting of the weekend as Meili stepped up to win the event with an impressive final round score of 301.20! Kenny finished the weekend with an 11th place finish on platform with a 6-dive score of 208.70.

Congratulations to both Meili and Kenny on a great weekend!

Marecki Named UB Female Athlete of the Week

2009-12-01T07:20:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Brynn Marecki on being named the UB Female Athlete of the Week for the week of Nov. 9th. Brynn won the 100 breast (1:04.66) and 200 breast (2:20.03) against Eastern Michigan on Friday. She was also a member of the winning 400 medley relay team, and placed 2nd behind teammate Alie Schirmers in the 200 IM. On Saturday against Ball State, Brynn won the 100 breast and 200 breast while helping the 200 medley relay team to the win.

Bulls End the Semester With a Big Weekend at Home

2009-11-12T09:18:00.000-08:00

The Buffalo Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving teams ended the first semester of the season with home competitions against Eastern Michigan and Ball State over the weekend. The men faced MAC competition for the first time this year, while the women went up against MAC teams for the first time at home.

Friday's competition against Eastern Michigan was a true test for both the men and women, as the Eagles have had a long standing tradition of success within the conference. The Bulls entered the meet looking to see how they measured up against some very good competition. The women opened the meet with a 1-2 finish in the 400 medley relay. The score of the meet remained close until the 50 free when Caroline Simmons, Jessie Koltz, and Sam Palma combined for a 1-2-4 finish. The trio of Jessie Koltz, Sam Palma, and Sam Eckert finished 1-2-3 in the 100 fly and put the final stamp on the evening. The women won the meet by a score of 166-128.

The men stepped up to the challenge of facing an Eastern Michigan program who has won 28 MAC titles. The men were led by sophomore Jared Heine who won the 200 free, sophomore Kenny Rhoades on 1-meter, freshman Matt Schwippert in the 100 fly, and the 400 free relay team who won the final event in a time of 3:07.97. It was the best showing by a Buffalo team against EMU in school history.

Saturday's meet against Ball State resulted in a victory for both the men and the women. The competition began with a 1-2 finish by both squads in the 200 medley relay. The women's "A" relay team just out touched the "B" relay, while the men's "B" relay snuck in for the win over the "A". Buffalo won all but 5 total events on the day. Noteworthy performances include wins by Kenny Rhoades on 1-meter and 3-meter diving, Meili Carpenter on both boards, Jessie Koltz in the 50 free and 100 fly, Kim Dale in the 1000 free, and Zach Ruske in the 200 free and 200 IM. Needless to say, a lot of great things happened this past weekend!

Congratulations Bulls!

Carpenter named UB Female Athlete of the Week

2009-11-03T05:53:00.001-08:00

Congratulations to senior Meili Carpenter! She was named the UB Female Athlete of the Week for the week of November 2nd. Meili had a very impressive weekend, winning all of 4 of her events. On Friday evening against Miami, she won the 1-meter diving competition with a score of 314.03 and 3-meter with a score of 270.08. During Saturday's meet against Ohio University, Meili stepped up once again to win both boards while setting a Ohio pool record and a UB team record on 3-meter (345.30).

Meili is the second member of the Women's Swimming & Diving team to be recognized for their performances this season. Junior Jordan Deren received the honor last week.

Buffalo Women Return Home After Exciting MAC Opening Weekend

2009-11-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

The UB Women's team traveled to Miami (OH) University and Ohio University this past weekend for their first MAC competitions of the season. Miami, the defending MAC champions, won the meet by a score of 171-129 at their home pool. The meet vs. Ohio came down to the final relay, with Ohio winning the meet by a score of 154-146. Despite the losses, there were plenty of moments to be excited about and to build on as the team heads back to Buffalo for 2 more MAC competitions on Nov. 6th and 7th.

Friday's meet at Miami was highlighted by individual event wins by Jordan Deren in the 500 free (5:06.54) and 1000 free (10:26.09), Caroline Simmons in the 50 free (23.97) and 100 free (52.40), Meili Carpenter on 1-meter and 3-meter, and the 400 free relay team of Jessie Koltz, Jordan Deren, Sam Palma, and Caroline Simmons (3:30.83).

On Saturday at Ohio, the women once again stepped up to the challenge of facing one of the conference's best teams. The meet began with the Bulls winning the 400 medley relay in a season best 3:52.60. Sophomore Brynn Marecki won the 100 breast and freshman Logan Mason won the 200 fly to give the Bulls some momentum going into the 1-meter diving competition. Senior Meili Carpenter won both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving competitions, including a OU pool and UB team record score on 3-meter (345.30)! Freshmam Caroline Simmons won the 100 free while Brynn Marecki and Alie Schirmers combined for a 1-2 finish in the 200 breast. Heading into the last relay, Buffalo needed to win the event in order to win the meet. The relay team of Jessie Koltz, Jordan Deren, Sam Palma, and Caroline Simmons placed second, but with a time of 1:35.52...the fastest in-season time since Coach Bashor took over the program in 2006!

Both the Men's and Women's teams will be competing against Eastern Michigan at home on Friday, Nov. 6th. The teams will be back in the pool on Saturday for their meet against Ball State.

Deren named MAC Swimmer of the Week

2009-10-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced yesterday that Jordan Deren earned Female Swimmer of the Week honors after her performances against Duquesne last Friday. Congratulations to Jordan and to the Bulls on a great start to the season!

Deren named UB Female Athlete of the Week

2009-10-27T09:36:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to junior Jordan Deren! She was named the UB Female Athlete of the Week for the week of Oct. 26th. Jordan won the 500 free in a time of 5:05.04 and the 1000 in a time of 10:28.05 against Duquesne on Friday during the Buffalo's first dual meet of the season. She was also a member of the winning 400 free relay that concluded the meet.

Bulls Win First Dual Meet of the Season

2009-10-26T06:07:00.001-07:00

The Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving teams opened up the dual meet season with wins over Duquesne on Friday night at Alumni Arena. After some good beginning of the season performances at the Western New York Invitational two weeks ago, the team was looking to improve with each upcoming competition.

The women won the meet by a score of 137.5 - 75.5. The meet began with a 1-2 finish in the 400 medley relay. UB went on to win 11 of the next 12 events including wins by Jordan Deren in the 500 free and 1000 free, Caroline Simmons in the 50 free, Alie Schirmers in the 200 IM, Caitlin Reilly in the 200 back, and Meili Carpenter on both 1-meter and 3-meter.

The men's meet came down to the final relay. With the score tied at 110, the Buffalo 400 free relay team of Simon Proudfoot, Jared Heine, Matt Hogan, and Chad Miller won convincingly with a time of 3:07.69. The relay victory clinched a 123-114 win for the Bulls. Other individual event winners from Buffalo include Matt Schwippert in the 200 fly, Zach Ruske in the 200 back, Colin Patrican on 1-meter, and Kenny Rhoades on 3-meter.

Because of technical difficulties with the timing system, the offical results have not yet been posted on our website. More information will be posted after the times are reviewed. You can read the complete press release on our website:
http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/swimming/

Becoming a UB Bull...Great Video!

2009-10-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

This is a great video put together by our Communications Office. You can also find it on our website, along with videos about the other Buffalo athletic teams. There are great things happening at UB, both academically and athletically, so feel free to check it out!

UB Athletics webpage: http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/ (Click on the "Become A Bull" icon in the upper right-hand corner).

UB Hosts Western New York Invite

2009-10-15T06:25:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, Oct. 10th, we hosted the 3rd annunal Western New York Invite at the UB's Alumni Arena Natatorium. Five teams competed in the meet, all representing the Western New York region. St. Bonaventure, Binghamton, Niagara, and Canisius all joined Buffalo in the non-scoring meet.

The meet had 2 timed final sessions, with half of the events in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. The women won 12 of the 15 events including multiple event wins for sophomore Brynn Marecki, junior Jordan Deren, and senior Caitlin Reilly. On the men's side, Zach Ruske won the 200 back, while freshman Josh Meints won the 100 breast and sophomore Simon Proudfoot won the 100 free. There were many impressive swims by the Bulls, but we are looking forward to the improvements that will continue to happen as the training picks up and the team gets back into meet-mode in the upcoming weeks.

You can read more about the meet and look at the results by visiting our website:
http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/swimming/news/swm10-10-2009-wnyinvite.shtml#

Coach Bashor Goes Under Again

2009-10-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

Here is another video of Head Coach Andy Bashor getting dunked yesterday at the UB Student Union. Several of the team members were there to help with his final plunge into the tank.

Andy also made the front page of the student newspaper on Wednesday....Way to go!

Coach Bashor Gets Dunked!

2009-10-06T10:30:00.000-07:00

With UB's Homecoming Weekend quickly approaching, there are numerous activities already going on around campus. Today's events included the UB Coaches Dunk Tank outside of the Student Union. The majority of our head coaches, and some of the assistant coaches volunteered to be dunked by anyone walking by the tank this afternoon.

Coach Andy Bashor was dunked several times, including this dunk by team captain Andrew Tamchyna. The team was there for support!

UB Implements Smoke-Free Campus Policy

2009-09-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

The University at Buffalo administration and UB Council have announced a smoke-free policy that was implemented on August 1st. Smoking is now prohibited inside and outside of all buildings, as well as on the grounds surrounding these buildings. Beginning on August 1, 2010, all 3 Buffalo campuses will be completely smoke-free, including parking lots. UB has joined a growing number of college campus that have adopted a 100-percent smoke-free policy.

And so it begins....

2009-09-01T06:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday marked the start of the 2009-10 academic year and the Swimming & Diving season. The team was altogether on pool deck for the first time on Monday afternoon for a team meeting and will be in the water starting today. Even with the 17 new faces, who are lovingly referred to as the "newcomers", everyone seemed excited and eager to get to work. There will be plenty of sore muscles in the days and weeks ahead, but also big improvements both in the pool and in the weight room.

We would like to take this time to introduce the newest member of our coaching staff. James Carey has joined our staff as the graduate assistant and will be with the team for the next 2 years while he works towards this master's degree in higher education. He is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated this past June from Ohio University with a degree in recreational studies. He swam for 2 seasons at Ohio before the men's program was cut in 2007.

Our Incoming Freshmen - The Men's Side...

2009-08-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

With the academic year beginning on Monday, we wanted to introduce our incoming freshmen on the men's side. Although we only graduated one senior from last year's team, we were looking to bring in a large class with a strong competitive background and a wealth of experience. These 8 newcomers will help add depth in a variety of areas as we continue to build on previous years' performances.

Paul Garman (Webster, NY): Swam for Webster High School and Webster Bluefins Swim Club. Paul is a 2009 New York State High School consolation finalist in the 100 free and 200 IM.

Matt Hogan (Birmingham, MI): Swam for Cranbrook High School and Birmingham "Y" Blue Dolphins. Matt is a Senior National and U.S. Open qualifier. He was the 2009 Michigan High School Division III State Champion in the 100 free and 200 IM.

Josh Meints (Oakley, CA): Swam for Freedom High School and Pleasanton Seahawks. Josh is a U.S. Open and Junior National Qualifier. He was the 2009 CIF-North Coast High School State Champion in the 200 IM and 100 breast.

Christian Muller (Pine Bush, NY): Swam for Pine Bush High School. Christian is a 2009 New York High School State Finalist in the 100 breast and a member of the NY state record-setting 200 medley relay team from Pine Bush.

Zach Rice (Mason, OH): Swam for Mason High School and the Mason Manta Rays. Zach is a Speedo Sectional qualifier and a consolation finalist in the 200 free and 500 free at the Ohio High School State Championships.

Matt Schwippert (East Aurora, NY): Swam for Iroquis High School and STAR Swimming. Matt is a Senior National and U.S. Open qualifier. He was the runner-up in the 100 back and placed 3rd in the 100 fly at the 2009 New York High School State Championships.

Ryan Smrekar (North Huntingdon,PA): Swam for Norwin High School. Ryan is Senior National and U.S. Open qualifier. He is also a 2-time Pennsylvania High School State qualifier in the sprint free events.

Cory Zorsch (Rochester, NY): Swam for Greece Athena High School and Hilton Area Swim Team. Cory is a U.S. Open and Junior National Qualifier. He placed 2nd in the 100 fly and 3rd in the 50 free at the 2009 New York High School State Championships.

It's Time to Meet Our Incoming Freshmen...The Women are First

2009-08-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

The 2009-10 season will begin in a couple of weeks and there will be plenty of new faces on the pool deck. With only one senior graduating on the women's side from last year's roster, we know this talented group of 8 young ladies will make an immediate impact. This class brings with it plenty of experience and accomplishments as well as enthusiasm. We are ready to get started!

Danielle Adank (Maple Grove, MN): Swam for Maple Grove High School and Great Wolf Swim Team. Dani is junior national qualifier in the butterfly events. She is also multiple-time Minnesota High School State qualifier in the 100 fly & 200 free.

Erin Burke (Raleigh, NC): Swam for Leesville Road High School and YOTA Swim Team. Erin is a U.S. Open and Junior National qualifier. She placed 3rd in the 500 free and 9th in the 100 fly at the 2009 North Carolina High School State Championships. Erin is also multiple event consolation & championship finalist at the 2009 YMCA Nationals.

Logan Mason (Carmel, IN): Swam for Carmel High School and Carmel Swim Club. Logan is also a U.S. Open and Junior National qualifier. She is the 2009 Indiana High School State champion in the 200 free, as well as the 200 free and 400 free relays. Carmel High School's 200 free relay team set the National High School Record in February.

Emma Miller (Pittsford, NY): Swam for Pittsford High School and PACK Swim Team. Emma is a Speedo Sectional qualifier in the middle distance free events as well as multiple-time New York High School State qualifier in the 200 free & 500 free.

Karly Moore (West Bloomfield, MI): Swam for West Bloomfield High School and Bloomfield-Birmingham Atlantis Swim Team. Karly is a Speedo Sectional qualifier and a 2008 Michigan High School State finalist in the 100 back & 200 IM.

Katelyn Pratt-Collins (Fairfield, OH): Swam for Fairfield High School and Fairfield YMCA. Katelyn is a Speedo Sectional & YMCA National qualifier in the backstroke and IM events. She was also a consolation finalist in the 100 back & 200 IM at the 2009 Ohio High School State championships.

Caroline Simmons (Stafford, VA): Swam for Colonial Forge High School and Stafford Swim Club. Caroline is a U.S. Open and Junior National qualifier in the sprint free events. She placed 3rd in the 50 free and 100 free at the 2009 Virginia AAA High School State Championships.

Alex Swies (Beverly Hills, MI): Swam for Mercy High School and Birmingham-Bloomfield Atlantis Swim Team. Alex is a Speedo Sectional qualifier and a 2008 Michigan consolation finalist in the 100 breast & 100 fly.

Men's Swimming & Diving Update: MAC Conference

2009-08-13T07:24:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to share some exciting news with all of you! On Monday, August 11th, the Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced that 3 affiliate members will become apart of Men's Swimming & Diving in the conference for the upcoming 2009-10 season. The University of Evansville, Southern Illinois University, and Missouri State Univerity have all signed a 6-year agreement with the MAC.

Unlike the previous affiliation with the Sunbelt Conference in which the championships were held at a neutral site in Nashville, the MAC Championships will be held on a member institution's campus. This year's championships will be hosted by Eastern Michigan University and will then alternate sites between a current MAC school (Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Ball State, and Miami) and an affiliate member (Evansville, Southern Ill., and Missouri St.). This 6-year agreement will not only produce a competitive athletic environment at the Championships, but will also provide stability for the future. Needless to say, we are looking forward to the future of Men's Swimming & Diving in the MAC!

You can read the full article on our website.

Team Introductions: Meet the Sophomores!

2009-08-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

After a brief break from our team introductions, we are happy to present you with our 2009-10 sophomore class. These men and women began their collegiate careers at UB last fall with impressive accomplishments already to their credit but even higher goals for themselves and the team. The 2008-09 season ended with 22 school records, including 9 of the 10 relay events, and this class played a big role in that success.

Keri Chandler (Mount Joy, PA): Free; majoring in communications. Keri is a school record holder in the 800 free relay.

Brynn Marecki (Livonia, MI): Breaststroke/IM; undecided major. Brynn is the school record holder in the 100 breast & 200 breast as well as the 200 medley relay & 400 medley relays. She is a MAC champion and conference record holder as a member of the 200 medley relay. She was awarded the Top Newcomer Award at the team banquet in April.

Amanda Reall (Orlando, FL): Distance Free/Fly; majoring in business administration

Alie Schirmers (Coon Rapids, MN): Distance Free/IM/Breast; majoring in exercise science. Alie is a school record holder in the 800 free relay. She was named the Most Improved following the 2008-09 season.

Chris Berloth (Ypsilanti, MI): Fly/IM; majoring in English.

Jared Heine (Corry, PA): Sprint Free; undecided major. Jared is the school record holder in the 200 & 800 free relays as well as the 400 medley relay. He was named the Top Newcomer by the team following the season.

Chad Miller (Liverpool, NY): Sprint Free/Fly; majoring in business. Chad is the school record holder in the 200 medley and 200 free relays. He was awarded the team's Most Improved Award following the 2008-09 season.

Colin Patrican (Ithaca, NY): Diving; majoring in psychology.

Simon Proudfoot (Jacksonville, FL): Free; majoring in business administration. Simon is the school record holder in the 200 & 800 free relays.

Team Introductions: Our Junior Class

2009-07-28T08:42:00.000-07:00

This year's women's junior class is the first to be recruited by Head Coach Andy Bashor. During their freshman year, the team jumped from a 8th place finish in 2007 at the MAC Championships to a 5th place finish in 2008, and their preformances helped make that happen. The men's team experienced a much smaller class that same season as a change of head coaches was felt during the recruiting process. These 3 men have improved tremendously over the past 2 season and we are excited to see how much more they will improve this season.

Jordan Deren (Lackawanna, NY): Distance Free; majoring in political science/pre-law. Jordan is the school record holder in the 1650 Free as well as the 400 and 800 Free Relays.

Jessie Koltz (Chenango Bridge, NY): Sprint Free/Fly; majoring in psychology. Jessie is the school recorder in the 200 and 400 Medley Relays as well as the 200 and 400 Free Relays.

Alisa Koopman (Clifton Park, NY): Distance Free/IM; majoring in business management.

Ashley Olsen (Tonawanda, NY): Free/Back; majoring in biomedical sciences. Ashley will be graduating this May, a year early, with hopes of continuing onto medical school.

Cat Scharf (New Hartford, NY): Sprint Free/Fly; majoring in psychology. Cat is the school record holder in the 200 Free Relay.

Renae Sharkey (Fords, NJ): Free/Back; majoring in exercise science. Renae will be returning this Fall following a back injury that kept her out of competition all of the 2008-09 season. We are looking forward to her return.

Sterling Gell (Lansing, NY): Sprint Free; majoring in business.

Jake Matter (East Aurora, NY): Diving; majoring in pharmacology.

Colin Wilbert (Albion, NY): Sprint Free; majoring in mathematics and computer science.

Team Introductions: Our Men's Senior Class

2009-07-21T10:07:00.000-07:00

This year's men's senior class is no stranger to adversity. Following their freshman year, a coaching change was announced and current Head Coach Andy Bashor took over the men's program. They were immediately asked to commit to a different training philosophy and environment, and have since stepped up to the challenge. These seniors can proudly say they have had a tremendous impact on the recent success of the Swimming & Diving program at Buffalo!

Jordan Matthews (Burnt Hills, New York): Breaststroke; majoring in mechanical engineering. Jordan is a school record holder in the 200 medley and 400 medley relays.

Mike McDowell (Rush, New York): Diver; majoring in matematics. Mike is the school record holder on both 1-meter and 3-meter, and is a 2-time NCAA Division I qualifier on platform.

Zach Ruske (Superior, Colorado): Backstroke/IM; majoring in communications. Zach is the school record holder in the 200 back, 200 IM, and 400 IM as well as the 800 Free Relay. He was the 2009 MAC Champion in the 200 back.

Kevin Song (Ottawa, Ontario): Breaststroke; majoring in biomedical pharmacology.

Andrew Tamchyna (Newmarket, Ontario): Backstroke/Sprint Free; majoring in engineering physics. Andrew will be one of our team captains for 2009-10 season.

Connor Vander Zalm (Kelowna, British Columbia): Distance Free/IM; majoring in business. Connor is the school record holder in the 1000 free and 1650 free. He was the 2009 MAC Champion in the 1650. Connor will be one of our team captains for the upcoming season. He was also a captain during the 2008-09 season.

Scott Woster (North Pole, Alaska): Butterfly/IM; majoring in chemical engineering. Scott is the school record holder in the 200 Fly.

Team Introductions: Our Women's Senior Class

2009-07-14T09:52:00.001-07:00

This year's women's senior class will be the first graduating class at Buffalo to swim their entire collegiate career under Coach Bashor. Although these women were not recruited by the current coaching staff, they were apart of the first group to fully commit and buy into the new team philosophy and goals. We are looking forward to watching them as they finish out their careers as members of the Buffalo Swimming & Diving Program!

Jessica Ballard (Hilton Head/Charleston, South Carolina): Backstroker/IMer; majoring in Fine Arts. Jessica is the school record holder in the 200 Back as well as the 200 Medley, 400 Free, and 800 Free Relays.

Meili Carpenter (Boulder, Colorado): Diver. Meili graduated with her undergraduate degree in Chemistry and Psychology after just 3 years. She will begin graduate school this fall in Education. Meili is the school record holder on both 1-meter and 3-meter, and is a 2-time NCAA Division I qualifier on Platform.

Kim Dale (Raleigh, North Carolina): Distance Free/IM; majoring in nursing. Kim was one of our co-captains during the 2008-09 season.

Emily Day (Speedway, Indiana): Middle Distance Free/Fly; majoring in business/marketing.

Sam Eckert (Eden, NY): Butterfly; majoring in hearing and speech sciences. Sam is a school record holder in the 200 Medley and 200 Free Relays.

Ursula Jeske (Rothschilld, WI): Diver; majoring in exercise science.

Sam Palma (Lancaster, NY): Sprint Free/Fly; majoring in history. Sam is a school record holder in the 200 and 400 Free Relays.

Laura Powalski (Williamsville, NY): Sprint Free/Back; majoring in business. Laura will be one of our co-captains this season. She was also a co-captain during the 2008-09 season.

Caitlin Reilly (Brockville, Ontario): Backstroke; majoring in international studies. Caitlin will be one of our co-captains this season.

Ashley Schaffert (Lockport, NY): Breaststroke/IM; majoring in graphic design. She is a former school record holder in the 200 and 400 Medley Relays.

Meet the Coaches - Asst. Coach Courtney Kostival

2009-07-13T09:05:00.000-07:00

Assistant Coach Courtney Kostival will begin her 4th season with the Buffalo Swimming & Diving program this fall. As the primary coach for the distance group, Courtney uses her experiences as a collegiate swimmer, both in and out of the water, to motivate the team to succeed beyond their own expectations. This past season, 2 Buffalo swimmers broke the school records in the 1650 free - 2 of the oldest records remaining in the program's history. The previous women's team record was set in 2000, while the men's record was set in 1995!

While swimming at Ohio University, Courtney focused on the distance freestyle events, specifically the 500 and the 1650. She began her collegiate career as a walk-on, in the truest meaning of the word, and graduated as a conference finalist in both of these events. It was a journey that she is very proud of and wouldn't change for any other.

After finishing her eligibility at Ohio in 2004, Courtney continued to work with the college team as a graduate assistant coach while earning her master's degree in Coaching Education. Her primary coaching responsibilities involved working with the distance group, including many of her former teammates. Courtney's move to Buffalo took place shortly after finishing grad school in the spring of 2006.

Meet the Coaches - Diving Coach Karla Helder

2009-07-12T12:32:00.001-07:00

Head Diving Coach Karla Helder will be entering her 6th season with the Bulls this fall. Since joining the Swimming & Diving staff in 2004, Karla has guided the diving program to new heights. Current Buffalo divers Meili Carpenter and Mike McDowell have rewritten the record books in both the 1-meter and 3-meter events on their way to qualifying for the NCAA Division I National Champions the past 2 seasons. Meili is UB's first participant at the Women's Division I Championships while Mike become only the second in the history of the Men's program.

Prior to taking over the diving program at Buffalo, Karla spent 9 seasons at UC-Davis, and time at both Chico State and Clemson University. While at UC-Davis, she coached 4 Division II national champions to 4 separate titles and 36 All-Americans. She was also named PCSC Men's Diving Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2003, and the Women's Diving Coach of the Year award in 2001.

Karla dove collegiately for Chico State University and was a 2-time NCAA Division II National Champion on 3-meter. She was inducted into Chico State's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. She has also earned 30 National diving titles during her career, including several over the past 2 seasons at the Master's National Championships. In May of 2008, Karla traveled to Perth, Australia to compete at the World Master's Diving Championships. She won broke both the 1-meter and 3-meter world records in her age group (50-54) on her way to winning 2 gold medals. In 2006, she set the world record for the 45-49 age group on 1-meter.

Meet the Coaches - Assistant Coach Aaron Bell

2009-07-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

Assistant Coach Aaron Bell will be entering his 3rd season with the UB Swimming & Diving program this fall. As the primary group coach for the middle distance group, Aaron has brought a new level of excitement and enthusiasm to the program. As a collegiate swimmer at Clarion University, he was a 20-time NCAA Division II All-American, specializing in the backstroke and freestyle events. He uses the experience as a very successful swimmer to motivate and guide the team to move up the conference ranks. Since joining the coaching staff in 2007, Aaron has been instrumental in guiding many of Buffalo's current swimmers to school records in both individual and relay events.

Prior to coming to Buffalo, Aaron spent time coaching at Ohio University and the University of Miami (FL). As a graduate assistant coach at Ohio, he worked with both the middle distance and distance groups, and was actively involved in recruiting for both the men's & women's teams.

Aaron and his fiancee, Courtney Gould, will be getting married tomorrow, Friday, July 10th. Congratulations to Aaron & Courtney!!!

Meet the Coaches - Head Coach Andy Bashor

2009-07-07T13:00:00.000-07:00

Head Coach Andy Bashor will begin his 4th season as the head coach of the Women's team and his 3rd season with the Men's team this Fall. Since taking over the Women's Swimming & Diving program in 2006, the Bulls have rewritten the record books and made their mark on the Mid-American Conference. The women's team jumped from 8th place to 5th at the 2008 MAC Championships. At this year's championships, the women broke 10 school records, including all 5 relays, and shocked the conference by winning the 200 Medley Relay in a Conference Record time of 1:39.74! We placed 8th in the same event just 2 years ago. . .what a difference 2 years can make!

The Men's program has made some very impressive improvements of their own over the past 2 seasons under Coach Bashor's direction. During the 2008-09 season, UB had 3 conference champions (Zach Ruske - 200 back, Connor Vander Zalm - 1650 free, Jake Sangren - 100 back) and placed 5 athletes on the All-MAC 1st Team - the most in school history. A total of 12 school records were broken throughout the season, including 4 of the 5 relays!

Andy came to Buffalo after spending 4 seasons at Rutgers University as the Head Assistant Coach. During the 2006 season, he helped lead 7 women to the NCAA Champions where the team placed 18th. Prior to his time at Rutgers, Andy spent 4 seasons as the Head Assistant at UC-Santa Barbara where he worked directly with the sprinters and breaststrokers. His coaching career started at Ohio University where he was the graduate assistant for 2 seasons.

Andy swam collegiately at North Caroline State University, specializing in sprint free and fly. He was a team captain during his senior year. He graduated with a degree in biology in 1996.

Andy lives in Lancaster, NY with his wife Brandi and their 3 children, Allie (6), Bobby (4), and Colby (2). . .see picture above!

Swimmers & Divers Earn Academic Honors

2009-07-06T13:14:00.001-07:00

The College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) announced its Scholar Athlete Awards this week. The Buffalo Women's Team earned All-American status by achieving a 3.34 team GPA for the spring semester. The Men's Team also earned All-American status with its 3.11 team GPA. Teams with a 3.0 GPA or higher were recognized by the CSCAA.

Juniors Mike McDowell and Meili Carpenter were named Academic All-Americans for the second consecutive season. To be selected to the All-American team, individuals had to qualify for the NCAA Championships and achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher for the semester or have a cumluative GPA above a 3.5. Both Mike and Meili competed on Platform at the Championships.

The Women's Team also had 3 individuals named to the Honorable Mention All-American team. Sophomore Jessie Koltz and Juniors Jessica Ballard & Sam Eckert achieved a GPA above a 3.5 for the spring semester. Honorable Mention selections had to acheive a NCAA "B" cut (consideration time) and a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Jessie, Jessica, and Sam were all members of our MAC record setting 200 Medley Relay team.

Great work Bulls!!!

Welcome to Buffalo Swimming & Diving

2009-07-03T12:50:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the University at Buffalo Swimming & Diving blog! We want to wish sophomore Brynn Marecki good luck at the World Championship Trials next week in Indianapolis. Brynn is coming off of a breakout freshman year in which she was a member of the conference championship 200 medley relay as well as a finalist in the 100 and 200 breast.

We are looking forward to pass along more information about Swimming & Diving program in the future. Have a Happy 4th of July!

GO BULLS!