Bulls Best Bonnies in Senior Day Finale

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's and women's swimming and diving teams sent out the 2013 senior class on a winning note Saturday afternoon as the Bulls swept Big Four rival St. Bonaventure at Alumni Arena Natatorium in the final dual meet of the year. The Bulls defeated the Bonnies, 159-135, in the men's meet. The UB women knocked off the Bonnies, 177-111. It was the fifth straight win by the Bulls in both all-time series.

In the women's meet, Spencer Rodriguez, Kelsey Barbour, Karly Moore and Ava Giachino each claimed a pair of victories for the Bulls (6-3).

Rodriguez won the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:27.41 and later took the 400-yard individual medley in 4:31.16. Barbour swept the breaststroke races, winning the 100-yard distance in 1:06.78 and the 200-yard race in 2:26.20. Moore won the 50-yard freestyle in 24.53. She also earned first-place points with a season-best 2:08.67 in the 200-yard backstroke. Giachino set season-best marks on both diving boards. She won the one-meter event with 286.13 points and claimed the three-meter springboard with 297.83 points.

Also claiming first-place finishes for the UB women were Jessica Powers in the 200-yard freestyle (1:52.86), Marissa Murphy in the 100-yard backstroke (59.06), Mallory Morrell in the 100-yard freestyle (52.64), Emma Miller in the 500-yard freestyle (5:08.26) and Brittney Kuras in the 100-yard butterfly (57.65). The Bulls also won the 200-yard medley relay in 1:47.42 with Alexis Valedon, Barbour, Murphy and Morrell comprising the foursome.

Leading the UB men (4-3) was Billy Patrum as he earned first-place finishes in three events. Patrum set a season-best in taking the 1,000-yard freestyle in 9:42.29. He also won the 200-yard butterfly in 1:56.00 and picked up first-place points with a 4:11.42 finish in the 400-yard individual medley.

Seniors Cory Zorsch and Matt Hogan won two events each in their final home meet of their careers. Zorsch set a season-best time in the 100-yard backstroke (51.05) and tied his season-best in winning the 100-yard butterfly (49.03). Hogan swept the sprint freestyle races, winning the 50-yard freestyle in 21.27 and the 100-yard freestyle in 46.16. Zorsch also swam the opening backstroke leg of the victorious 200-yard medley relay as he was joined by fellow seniors Josh Meints, Matt Schwippert and Ryan Smrekar to a 1:31.78 finish.

Mike Dugan set a season-best in winning the 200-yard freestyle in 1:42.77. Meints won the 100-yard breaststroke in 57.62. Schwippert claimed the 200-yard backstroke in 1:50.92.

Prior to the meet, the Bulls honored the 14 members of the 2013 senior class, Paul Garman, Shawn Hoffman, Hogan, Meints, Christian Muller, Zach Rice, Schwippert, Smrekar and Zorsch from the men's team and Dani Adank, Miller, Moore, Morrell and Alex Swies from the women's squad.

Head coach Andy Bashor praised his senior classes after the meet for what they have done for the program. Eight of the nine men's seniors competed all four years for the Bulls helping the team to a MAC postseason title and two second-place finishes. "For the men, it's huge, nine guys leading the charge. The core group of eight, that's one-third of our team," said Bashor. Commenting on his women's team he stated, "the women have done a really good job of changing the culture and a great job of leadership."

The Bulls will rest for the MAC Championships at the end of the month. Selected athletes will compete next weekend at the Ohio State Winter Invitational.