Sabrina Vumbacco ’23 capped off her amazing swimming career with a huge performance at Patriot League Championships, helping the Bison secure third place overall. 

Vumbacco had a busy week, securing two bronze medals in the 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays, in which those relay teams had the fastest and second fastest times in program history, respectively. 

The senior also secured a silver medal in the 500 freestyle on Thursday to add onto her already impressive resume. 

To finish the week, Vumbacco, who had previously won bronze and silver medals in the 1,650 as a freshman and as a junior, completed the event in 16:45.13 to earn her first gold medal. 

This was an incredible performance for the star senior, as it proved to be a culmination of years of hard work. 

“It was a really long week as I competed for all four days, so making sure I was prepared going into the week was key,” Vumbacco said. “The preparation really started as soon as last year’s Patriot League Championships ended, as I knew I had to be my absolute best to end my Bucknell swimming career on a high note. I think the whole team had the same mentality in being very intentional, focused and disciplined when it came to training, and I believe it paid off this past week.”

This past week was particularly impressive for the senior, as she has found a way to produce since her freshman year and not only sustain that success but improve each year. 

Before this meet, Vumbacco entered the competition as a two-time All-Patriot League member (2022 First Team & 2020 Second Team), a one-time Academic All-Patriot League Team member, the 2020 Rookie of the Patriot League Championship Meet and as a four-time Patriot League individual medalist. She also holds Bucknell’s second-fastest 500 freestyle, third-fastest 1,000 freestyle and 1,650 freestyle, fourth-fastest 200 butterfly, sixth-fastest 200 freestyle and 400 IM, eighth-fastest 100 butterfly time and is a member of three relay teams with the program’s top-10 times. 

After this weekend, Vumbacco solidified herself further as one of the best swimmers in program history. 

“I’m really just so grateful for this program and everyone in it,” Vumbacco said. “The team has been such a positive environment and has given me and so many others a sense of home. It’s just been a fun, wild ride and I’m happy to end my career where I am with the people I’m with. So even though it’s sad to be coming to an end, I wouldn’t have it any other way.” 

Vumbacco and the Bison look to end the season on an even higher note at the ECAC Open Swimming and Diving Championships this weekend at Navy.