The men and women’s Swimming and Diving teams hosted the Patriot League Championships this past week. 

On the men’s side, the Bison finished in third place behind Army and Navy, racking up 538.5 points. On Wednesday, Christian Stef  ’23, Shane Wynne ’26, Andy Dorsel ’25 and Chris Kopac ’25 earned third place in the 800 freestyle relay with a 6:31.17 time, just below the program record. 

Additionally, Chris Fabian ’24, Justin DiSanto ’25, John Gehrig ’24 and Leo Kuyl ’23 broke the school record for the 200 medley with a 1:26.83, just missing third place by a tenth of a second. 

Jackson Vinarub ’26 finished in eighth place in the three-meter dive (265.50), earning 11 points and logging the fourth best mark in program history. Nick Pirone ’23 and Jack Krug ’26 placed 10th (253.95) and 13th (228.45), respectively. 

On Friday, Kuyl earned first place in the 50 freestyle (19.75) to break another school record and to win the Bison men’s first Patriot League gold in five years. He broke another record as the anchor for the 400 medley relay with teammates Fabian, DiSanto and Gehrig, swimming a 3:13.23 to win third place. 

Setting the third record of the day was Gehrig in the 200 IM, tying for third (1:46.21). Andy Dorsel took sixth place (1:46.49) in the same event. 

The Bison continued setting records on day three, beginning with Fabian in the 100 butterfly (47.66). 

Gehrig also continued his strong performance, placing third in the 100 butterfly and earning 16 points for Bucknell. 

Kopac swam in the 200 freestyle to earn fourth place with a 1:37.26 time. 

DiSanto, Kuyl, Gehrig and Fabian competed in the 200 freestyle relay to earn fourth place (1:19.51). 

Christian Stef recorded a 1:38.14 in the 200 freestyle to place fifth in the school record book. 

Krug placed ninth (267.75) in the one meter dive just ahead of Vinarub, who placed 10th (259.70). 

On the final day of competition, teammates Gehrig and Wynne earned second and third place, respectively, in the 200 butterfly event. Gehrig finished with a 1:45.13 time to break the school record he set last year. 

Leo Kuyl placed third with a 43.92 time in the 100 freestyle, breaking the school record as well, after already having broken his own record in prelims earlier in the day. 

Gehrig and Kuyl, along with DiSanto and Fabian, placed fourth in the 400 freestyle relay (​​2:56.34) and broke a school record. 

Braden Beagle ’26 placed tenth in the 200 backstroke (1:47.57) to rank fourth in school history.

Alex Crossing ’26 placed eighth in the 1650 freestyle (15:38.82) to rank in school history. 

Noah Basista ’24 competed in the 200 breaststroke to place tenth (2:00.67) and rank fourth in school history. 

Through the four-day competition, the men won six bronze medals, one silver, and one gold while breaking eight school records.

The women’s team also placed third place in the Championships with a total of 540.5 points. 

Esme Hunter ’24, Alexandra Ritorto ’23, Sabrina Vumbacco ’23 and Sophia Donati ’23 set a school best in the 200 medley relay (1:41.88), placing third ahead of Army. 

Vumbacco competed with Jennifer Bolden ’26, Abby Doss ’24 and Caroline McGann ’24 to earn third place in the 800 freestyle relay (7:18.59) and to rank second in program history. 

Vumbacco continued on her high streak, earning silver in the 500 freestyle finals. She swam with teammates Hunter, Ritoro and Bolden in the 400 medley race to place fifth, earning Bucknell 28 points. 

Kayla Lichtner ’24 competed in the 50 freestyle to place seventh (23.61), and McGann placed eighth in the 500 freestyle (4:58.33). 

Teammates Meghan Catherwood ’25 and Gina Hinthorn ’25 competed in the one meter dive and placed seventh (255.65) and eighth (255.25) respectively. 

Doss earned third place (4:21.41) in the 400 IM and Catherine Craig ‘23 earned sixth (4:26.63) in the same event. 

Hunter tied for third in the 100 backstroke, swimming in 55.14. 

Lichtner, Donati, Ritorto and Hunter earned fourth in the 200 freestyle relay and ranked second in school history with a 1:33.04 time. 

McGann placed seventh in the 200 freestyle (1:49.98), Catherine Craig placed fifth in the 200 breaststroke and Skye Sunderhauf ‘25 placed seventh in the 400 IM  (4:27.74). 

In the 100 breaststroke event, Liz Dokina ’25 placed eighth with a 1:03.11 time, ranking third in program history. 

The final day of competition remained exciting with Vumbacco earning gold in the 1,650 freestyle with a 16:45.13 time. This was her first gold after collecting bronze and silver medals in the same event as a first-year and junior. Teammate Clair Kehley ’23 followed Vumbacco closely with a third place finish (16:55.27). McGann finished fifth in the same event. 

Bolden, Donati, Lichtner and Hunter added a bronze medal, placing third in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:23.43. 

Catherwood marked 282.45 in the three-meter dive, earning fifth place, ranking second in school history. Teammate Reggie Frias ’25 marked 274.40, ranking third in the school books. 

On the whole, the Bison Women’s Swim and Dive team collected eight medals and broke a school record in the 200 medley relay. 

“Championship season is always so fun for our team,” Craig said. “We have such great energy on deck and we’ve been working towards leagues and ECACs since before August, so it’s really rewarding to see the team reach goals and have great swims. Also, as a senior, it’s so special to wrap up your career with all your best friends around you.”

The team looks forward to the ECAC Championships in Maryland from Feb. 24 to 26.