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

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.