The UB women's swimming and diving team started its season with a big splash this weekend, breaking six pool records in Friday's win at Canisius and winning all but two events in Saturday's victory over Siena.
The team soaked up a total 24 wins at both meets.
"They started the season off very strong," said interim coach Scott Vanderzell. "They did an outstanding job applying their training to competition."
The team pushed itself hard in its first meet on Friday and gained a whopping 156-61 victory over Canisius (0-2) at the Koessler Athletic Center. UB (1-0 overall) won all 13 events in the meet while raising the bar for several pool records.
Junior Kahla Walkinshaw set a pool record in the 500-meter freestyle with a time of 5:11:65. Junior Frances Stephenson had a new best in the 200-meter individual medley with a time of 2:12:63.
Junior Cassy Oliveri had a record-breaking time of 1:20:20 in the 100-meter backstroke, and senior Jackie English won the 100-meter butterfly with a record-setting 1:02:20. English also won first place in the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 25:89.
On the diving end, freshman Megan Stratton won her first career collegiate event as she dominated the one-meter event with a six-dive total of 222.35 points. Stratton also compiled 215.35 points in her six dives on the three-meter springboard.
Saturday's home opener against Siena gave the Bulls a second victory in as many days. UB won 11 of 13 events and finished with a 171-56 score, sinking Siena's chance at taking home the victory.
"Saturday, the team continued on the same pitch as Friday, focusing and improving on techniques and strategies," Vanderzell said.
UB out-swam Siena in the first race, as junior Julie Marcotte finished first in the 400-meter medley relay with a time of 4:11:96. Marcotte scored a total of 24 points for the Bulls while setting two season highs. The junior placed first in the 200-meter individual medley and second in the 100-meter breaststroke.
Stratton produced a second impressive win of the weekend for the divers as she earned first place in the one-meter diving with a personal-best of 244.57 points. The freshman also won first place in the three-meter event with a score of 206.25.
"I am very optimistic about our team's ability to work together and to be successful," Vanderzell said of his team's achievement over the weekend.
Although the team opened their season with two big wins, Vanderzell said the young Bulls squad has plenty of learning to do.
"I feel that we all have a lot of room for improvement," he said. "The season is very young and the team is still learning. We need more race experience to feel fully comfortable in our growth process."
Vanderzell added that the Bulls look forward to putting those improvements into practice next Friday as they begin their Mid-American Conference season schedule.
UB will take on Ball State University at home next Friday at 4 p.m. in Alumni Arena.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
