After a month out of the water, the Bulls jumped in with their game faces on.
???Buffalo's men's team (2-4) and women's team (4-2) came to swim as they dominated the Binghamton Bearcats in all aspects. Binghamton's men's team (2-5) and women's team (1-7) were no match for Buffalo at Alumni Arena Natatorium.
???The men's team defeated Binghamton 126-91, while the women's team was on top with a 140-81 victory.
???The men's team was led by strong first place finishes from junior freestyler Conner Vander Zalm and freshmen Chris Berloth, Jake Sangren, Jared Heine and Chad Miller against Binghamton.
???Vander Zalm earned the gold in the 500-meter freestyle in 4:46.63. He also won the 1000-freestyle with a time of 9:46.58. Berloth took the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 1:57.90 and Sangren placed first in the 100-backstroke with a time of 1:54.63.
???Miller got to the wall in 21.78 for the 50-meter freestyle to place first. The freshman also captured the 100-meter freestyle in 47.3 seconds.
???Swimming head coach Andy Bashor is very pleased with Miller's performance so far in the season. Miller was named Buffalo's Athlete of the Week last week based on his winning times in the meet against the Bearcats.
???"As a freshman, [Miller] has really been coming along very well," Bashor said. "He's already done lifetime bests this year and that typically doesn't happen until our shave meet, when we shave and rest and everything in February for our championships."
???The women faired equally as well. Juniors Kim Dale, Jessica Ballard and Caitlin Reilly, sophomores Jordan Deren and Catherine Scharf, and freshmen Allie Schirmers and Keri Chandeler all placed first in their individual events.
???Dale won the 1000-meter freestyle and earned a season best time of 10:38.2. Ballard came in first with a 5:15.52 for the 500-meter freestyle. Reilly pulled through for her team with a time of 2:14.69 in the 200-meter individual medley.
???Deren took first in the 200-meter freestyle in 1:56.04, while Scharf came in first in the 50-meter freestyle in 24.96.
???Schirmers captured the 200-meter butterfly for the Bulls (2:11.46) while Chandler captured the 100-meter freestyle (55.43).
???The successful meet was due in part to Buffalo's training over the break. Both teams stayed in Buffalo for training until Dec. 19. After returning on Dec. 28, they were back in Buffalo practicing.
???Unfortunately for the Bulls, the training did not carry over into the men's team's contest at Miami (OH) on Jan. 17. The Bulls lost to the RedHawks, 131-101.
???Senior Zach Ruske led the Bulls with two individual wins on the day. He captured a victory in the 400-meter IM in 4:09.41 and later placed first in the 200-meter backstroke in 1:51.30.
???Bashor hopes his team wins the rest of their dual meets and keep improving after the Miami loss.
???"Our goal is do our best and to swim our fastest at the end of the year." he said.
???Both teams will return home when they face Niagara on Friday. The event begins at 6 p.m.
