The Bulls went to work in the Alumni Arena Natatorium this past week in the four-day Mid-American Conference (MAC) swim & dive championships, securing fourth place overall. UB finished out the weekend with 12 swims that broke athlete’s personal best times and 15 swims that broke athlete’s season best times.
The first day of the meet started strong for the Bulls, with the 200-yard Medley team of fifth-year Mia Naccarella, sophomore Grace Rider, junior Nicole Aguilar and sophomore Jillian Strine securing fifth place in the event. Later that day, the team of Naccarella, freshman Bella Forsman, senior Sawyer Bosley and sophomore Abbey Gardner, placed second in the 800-yard Medley relay with a time of 7:13.42. Both relay teams set season-best times.
Naccarella had an all-around outstanding performance at the MAC championships, earning seven top-five finishes and breaking two school records.
“Any anxieties that I get, I just turn it into excitement. I’m just so happy to be here,” Naccarella said.
Naccarella placed second in the 100-yard backstroke and the 200-yard backstroke. Both times were personal bests and set new school records.
“I just want to stay in my own lane, and wherever I am mentally I told myself that I would just meet myself there,” junior distance swimmer Ava Cunningham said.
Cunningham earned a bronze medal in the 500-yard freestyle, setting a new personal best and rising to sixth all time in program history. She also took home a fifth place finish in the one mile freestyle with a personal best of 17:01.69.
Another standout swimmer was freshman Isabella Forsman, taking home a silver medal in the 400-yard Individual Medley, with a personal best time of 4:16.60. She ranks third all-time in program history. Later in the tournament, Forsman placed fourth in the 200-meter butterfly, with another personal best time of 2:01.20.
“We want to get best times, we want to get personal bests on the diving boards…the goal is to just have a lot of fun so we have a lot to cheer for tonight,” Head Coach Andy Bashor said going into the final day of the MAC Championships.
Bashor emphasized the hard work that his team has put into this season, starting back in September.
The atmosphere throughout the meet was electric, and the stands were filled with supportive fans. Despite the high stakes nature of the meet, the vibes on the pool deck were amazing, with athletes cheering on their teammates, and even their competitors; keeping the energy fun and supportive.
The Bulls took home two first place medals thanks to the diving performances of senior Mari Kwak, who won the one-meter and three-meter springboard diving events. The Bulls shined on the diving board, sweeping first through third place in the three-meter, with senior Presley Dorsett placing second and sophomore Sophie Meuwissen placing third. Junior Mallory Hanna also placed third in the one-meter Diving event.
The Bulls diving efforts were further celebrated at the awards ceremony where senior diver Marialis Kwak won MAC Diver of the Year for the third time in her career. Diving coach Russ Dekker was named MAC Diving Coach of the Year for the fifth consecutive year in a row.
The diving program made a huge impact on the teams overall score, contributing 115 points to their total of 567.5, ultimately landing the team a fourth place finish.
“I’m trying not to cry… but I’m just so proud of my whole team,” Kwak said.
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