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

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

"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

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

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

"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

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

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

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

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

--Meili

Senior Perspectives - Emily Day

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

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

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

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