Bulls Stumble Against Akron in Heartfelt Senior Day Showdown

Swimming and Diving
1/18/2025 1:51:00 PM

BUFFALO, N.Y. – On Saturday afternoon, the University at Buffalo swimming and diving squad celebrated senior day while competing against Akron. The Bulls were defeated by the reigning MAC Champion Zips, with a score of 181-118.

Before the competition, the Bulls acknowledged their eight graduating student-athletes. This year’s graduating class has made a significant mark in the program record books, accumulating seven school records, 35 all-time top ten performances, five First-Team All-MAC selections, two Second-Team All-MAC choices, 12 Academic All-MAC honors, and two CSC Academic All-District recognitions.

 

IN THE POOL

Karen Austin initiated the individual events for the Bulls by winning the 1000-yard freestyle. The junior concluded the race with a season-best of 10:36.37. Ava Cunningham followed closely to secure third place for the Bulls, recording a time of 10:38.05.

Grace Rider clinched victory in the 100-yard breaststroke for the Bulls with a time of 1:05.30. Ava Pauly finished fourth (1:05.79). The top four swimmers in this event concluded within half a second of one another. Rider subsequently placed third in the 200-yard breaststroke, finishing with a time of 2:24.38, while Pauly secured fourth (2:25.68).

Elise McCaul (1st, 5:07.39) and Isabella Forsman (5:08.07) achieved first and second place in the 500-yard freestyle. McCaul also earned a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:53.33, trailing the first-place finisher by less than a second (1:52.41). The junior’s time was a season-best.

Forsman finished as the runner-up in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:03.50. The freshman was two seconds off her personal record (2:01.56). Forsman capped her day with another second-place finish in the 100-yard individual medley, clocking in at 58.44, just shy of her personal best (58.40). Nicole Aguilar secured fifth place in this event with a time of 1:00.44, contributing additional points for the Bulls.

Aguilar also took third place in the 100-yard butterfly, earning three points for Buffalo with a time of 57.54. Freshman Maddy Schnelzer added another point in fifth with a time of 58.52.

Mia Naccarella recorded two second-place finishes in the backstroke events. The graduate student achieved second in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 55.35, finishing just over half a second behind the winner (54.68). Naccarella also placed second in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:02.50. Vivian Roy followed closely to take fourth, contributing points for the Bulls with a time of 2:07.73.

All swimming results from today’s meet against Akron can be accessed here.

 

THE DIVING WELL

The Bulls excelled in the diving segment against the Zips, with Marialis Kwak winning both the three-meter (341.03) and the one-meter (294.45) events. Kwak has triumphed in all 13 individual diving competitions she has entered this season.

The Bulls occupied five of the top six positions in the three-meter diving, with Kwak leading the group. Sophie Meuwissen (2nd, 279.60), Mallory Hanna (3rd, 277.65), Kaylee Donovan (4th, 273.23), and Presley Dorsett (6th, 256.95) rounded out Buffalo’s top five finishers. Maggie Meyers (8th, 248.85) and Daphne Fox (9th, 224.10) completed the Bulls’ roster. Meyers achieved a new personal record with her score.

In the one-meter competition, Kwak again led the Bulls as they took seven of the top eight spots. Dorsett placed second (280.80), while Meuwissen garnered another podium finish alongside a new personal record score of 276.75. The sophomore’s score narrowly missed entering the program’s all-time rankings (278.85). Hanna (4th, 266.48), Donovan (6th, 245.18), Meyers (7th, 243.30), and Fox (8th, 241.50) completed Buffalo’s competitors.

All diving results from today’s meet against Akron can be accessed here.

 

UP NEXT

The Bulls are set to compete again on January 31st and February 1st in a two-day tri-meet at Bowling Green and Toledo. Additionally, the program will host MAC Championships from February 26th to March 1st at the Alumni Arena Natatorium. A comprehensive schedule for UB Swimming and Diving can be found here.

For all updates on UB Swimming & Diving, visit the official website of the Buffalo Bulls, and follow the program on Instagram (@UBSwimDiveTeam), X (@UBSwimDiveTeam), and Facebook (“Buffalo Bulls Swimming and Diving”).

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