Bulls Breeze By Ball State

15 individuals pick up first-place finishes as both the men’s and women’s teams defeat the Cardinals

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men’s and women’s swimming and diving team finished up their weekend with a sweep of the Ball State swimming and diving teams, as the men won by a score of 158-137 to improve their record to 2-1 overall (1-1 MAC), while the women defeated the Cardinals 161-137 to bring their record to 3-2 overall (2-2 MAC).

Kim Dale

The women started off quickly, taking a 1-2 finish in the 200 medley relay, as the team of Jessica Ballard, Brynn Marecki, Sam Palma and Caroline Simmons finished first in a time of 1:47.92, while the foursome of Caitlin Reilly, Alie Schirmers, Sam Eckert and Jessie Koltz finished second in a time of 1:48.15. The Bulls won the next four consecutive events with Kim Dale winning the 1,000 freestyle (10:41.18), Jordan Deren picking up a first-place finish in the 200 freestyle (1:54.76), Ballard taking the 100 backstroke (58.76) and Marecki winning the 100 breaststroke (1:07.51). Ballard later took the 200 backstroke (2:08.51) as well, as did Marecki in the 200 breaststroke (2:24.61), to give her the clean sweep of the breaststroke events for the weekend. In the sprint category, Koltz placed first in the 50 freestyle (24.00), while Simmons handled the 100 freestyle, winning in a time of 52.04.

Zach Ruske

The men also started out the meet on a positive note, taking a 1-2 finish in the 200 medley relay with the Buffalo “B” relay of Zach Ruske, Jordan Matthews, Chris Berloth and Ryan Smrekar taking the first-place spot in a time of 1:35.88, while the “A” relay of Matt Schwippert, Josh Meints, Cory Zorsch and Jared Heine was right behind, finishing in a time of 1:35.96. The 1,000 freestyle was a close race for the men, with UB distance specialist Connor Vander Zalm pulling away from the Cardinal competition in the last few laps to win the event in 10:04.98. Ruske won the 200 freestyle (1:45.03) for the Bulls, while Schwippert took care of the 100 backstroke (53.09). Ruske also won the 200 backstroke in a time of 1:52.30. Heine collected an individual win in the 100 freestyle (47.02), as did Kevin Song in the 200 breaststroke (2:11.90) and Zorsch in the 100 butterfly (52.29), as the men went on to earn their first MAC win of the season.

Kenny Rhoades

Buffalo diving had another successful day, with Meili Carpenter and Kenny Rhoades each sweeping their events. Rhoades scored 297.22 points to win the one-meter event, and earned 318.90 to take the top spot on the three-meter board. Carpenter took first in the one-meter event with a score of 303.00, as well as the three-meter event, finishing with a score of 333.15.

The Buffalo divers will take part in the Wildcat Invite in Tucson, AZ, beginning November 20.The rest of the team will take the rest of November off from competition. The Bulls will be back together for competition in early December as they head to Akron to take part in the Zippy Invite, hosted by the University of Akron, starting December 4.