If records are meant to be broken, then sophomore diver Meili Carpenter has completely bought into that philosophy. Two weeks ago, Carpenter set the school record of 333.08 points on the three-meter board (six dives) against Niagara. Saturday, against Mid-American Conference rival Bowling Green, she again broke her personal best in that event, with 336.10 points. Carpenter also won the one-meter diving event with a score of 272.00 points.
"Karla Helder (UB diving coach) is doing a great job with the women and she keeps getting the divers better and better, and breaking school records," said head coach Andy Bashor.
When Carpenter was asked how she felt about breaking yet another school record, she modestly replied, "It's nice to see all the hard work paid off."
Last season when the Bulls and Falcons met, the Falcons were looking for their first win in the conference. The result of that meet was a win for the Falcons. Saturday, the Falcons (0-7, 0-7 MAC) looked to repeat history, as they came into the meet not only looking for their first conference victory, but also their first victory overall. Buffalo (6-4, 3-4 MAC) refused to give Bowling Green their first win, putting on a show for the fans at the last home meet of the season, beating the Falcons 164-127.
Sophomore Ashley Schaffert took both the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:07.16, and the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:26.43. Schaffert also won the breaststroke in the 200-yard medley relay with teammates sophomores Jessica Ballard and Sam Palma, and freshman Jessie Koltz in 1:48.27.
Palma and Koltz also had wins in their individual events. Koltz won the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 53.77, and Palma won the 100-yard butterfly in 59.34.
Two Bulls swimmers recorded individual bests with sophomores Kimberly Dale and Caitlin Reilly. Dale won the 1,000-yard freestyle, with a season-best time of 10:30.33, ten seconds faster than her previous best time. Reilly took the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:08.98.
Senior swimmer Meghan Lafferty left Bulls fans with something to remember her by on Senior Day. Lafferty finished in first place with a time of 24.78 in the 50-yard freestyle, one-hundredth of a second faster than Bowling Green's freshman, Carrie Enright.
Buffalo's final two victories were in the 200-yard freestyle, where freshman Renae Sharkey won with a time of 1:55.99, and in the 500-yard freestyle, which sophomore Andrea Lehner won with a time of 5:02.22.
"Overall I was very pleased on all of their performances, and it was nice to win our last home dual meet, especially for our seniors," Bashor said.
The Bulls conclude their regular season on Wednesday evening on the road against St. Bonaventure at 6 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
