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Bucknell at La Salle
When: Friday, Jan. 10, 1 p.m.
Where: Kirk Pool, Philadelphia, Pa.
Team Records: Bucknell M: 2-2, W: 3-1; La Salle M: 1-4; W: 5-4
 
Army West Point at Bucknell
When: Saturday, Jan. 11, 1 p.m.
Where: Kinney Natatorium, Lewisburg, Pa.
Team Records: Bucknell M: 2-2, W: 3-1; Army M: 6-1; W: 8-1
Watch Live (YouTube) | Live Results
 
About the Meets

• The Bucknell men’s and women’s swimming and diving squads have returned from their yearly winter training expedition to Florida and are poised to recommence their dual-meet agenda this upcoming weekend. The Bison will compete at La Salle on Friday for their initial and sole away dual meet of the season, after which they will host Patriot League opponent Army West Point on Saturday afternoon.
• Bucknell and La Salle were once league adversaries on the men’s front in the Middle Atlantic Conference and East Coast Conference. In reality, Bucknell seized five conference titles in La Salle’s pool: the 1971 and 1973 MAC championships as well as the 1975, 1977, and 1978 ECC championships. Their first encounter in a dual meet occurred in 1960, with the Explorers maintaining a 20-16 advantage in the historical matchup. La Salle claimed 12 consecutive duals from 1979-2011; however, the Bison have secured victory in the last two, including a 179-121 decision last season at Kinney Natatorium. The last time the team visited Kirk Pool resulted in a triumphant 171-127 win for the Bison in 2012.
• The Bucknell women hold a 6-9 record historically against La Salle in a rivalry that began in 1983. The teams faced off last season for the first time in 12 years, where the Bison emerged victorious with a score of 185-115 in Lewisburg.
• Bucknell’s women’s team has enjoyed considerable success throughout the years against Army. The Bison lead the all-time series 22-9 dating back to 1981, although the Black Knights have triumphed in the last two encounters. Army emerged victorious 207-93 at West Point last season.
• Bucknell and Army first clashed in men’s swimming and diving in 1966, with the Black Knights winning 33 of the 38 meetups since then, including the last 12 consecutively. Army triumphed 218-81 in their last encounter at West Point. The most recent series win for Bucknell was a close 160.5-134.5 result at Crandall Pool in 2012, with the last Bison win at Kinney Natatorium occurring in 2009 with a score of 190-108.
• Army achieved a sweep against their main rival Navy at home on Dec. 5, with the women winning 169-131 and the men claiming victory 192.5-107.5. This marked their first sweep of the Star Meet against the Mids since 1988.

Bucknell Women at a Glance

• Bucknell’s last comprehensive team event was the three-day Bucknell Invitational held on Nov. 22-24. The Bison performed admirably in the trials/finals meet, finishing second to Connecticut and ahead of Delaware, Davidson, Fordham, Seton Hall, and UMBC.
• The Bison capped off that impressive performance with a win in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Virginia Hastings, Sara Ketron, Jennifer Bolden, and Kyla Kelly claimed victory in an exhilarating race from Lane 1, and their time of 3:23.14 ranks as the third-fastest in school history and the fastest recorded in a non-league championship event.
• Notable freshman Clara Renner achieved second-place finishes in the 500 and 1,650 freestyles as well as the 400 IM. She was outperformed only by reigning Big East Swimmer of the Meet Allie Waggoner in those events. Renner has already secured a place in Bucknell’s top-10 lists across seven individual events and one relay.
• Renner participated in the renowned Toyota U.S. Open meet in Greensboro, N.C., during the first week of December, qualifying for evening swims in both the 200 and 500 freestyle events. She reached the A Final in the 500, finishing sixth, and one day later earned second place in the B Final of the 200.
• In total, the Bison women introduced 14 new top-10 times into the record books during the Bucknell Invitational. Throughout the individual events, Renner accounted for five new top-10 marks, while Kelly added two, and Sam Benzija, Sydney Jee, Sara Ketron, and Skye Sunderhauf also achieved top-10 personal records.
• Bucknell currently holds a 3-1 record in dual meets this season, all against Patriot League competitors. The Bison commenced the season with a commanding 215-84 victory over Boston University, followed by a quad meet where they defeated American (244.5-54.5) and Lafayette (234-66), but faced a setback against Navy (161-134).

Bucknell Men at a Glance

• The Bison men are presently 2-2 this season after victories over American (231-66) and Lafayette (238-62), along with defeats to Navy (172-117) and Boston University (157.5-140.5).
• Bucknell’s last full-team event was the Bucknell Invitational on Nov. 22-24. The Bison secured a fifth-place finish in the meet, ahead of Davidson but behind Delaware, UMBC, Seton Hall, and Fordham.
• Andy Dorsel shone during the weekend with an impressive triumph in the 400 IM on the second day. The following day, he participated in consecutive events, reaching the finals in both the 200 breast (4th) and 200 fly (7th).
• Chris Kopac, who achieved four individual victories in the initial two meets of the season, represented the Bison at the Toyota U.S. Open in Greensboro, N.C. He competed in the 200 and 500 freestyle events.
• Bucknell’s divers all distinguished themselves during the autumn semester. Jack Krug, Jackson Vinarub, and Connor Thurston have collectively set personal records on the 3-meter board. Vinarub’s score of 307.8 against Boston University elevated him to the No. 2 position on Bucknell’s all-time leaderboard, while Krug’s 299.5 at the Fall Invite raised him from seventh to fifth. Thurston’s score of 271.65 in the quad meet was just .3 shy of breaking into the top 10.

A Look Ahead

• Following this weekend’s duals, the Bison will only have three remaining meets— all at home—leading up to the 2025 Patriot League Championships, scheduled for Feb. 19-22 at Kinney Natatorium.
• Next on the agenda is a match against Loyola on Friday, Jan. 17 at 1 p.m.