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