BU Swimming and Diving Teams Head to Bucknell for Patriot League Championships
BU Swimming and Diving Teams Head to Bucknell for Patriot League Championships
Terriers looking to break individual school records, finish in top five
The Boston University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are looking to make a splash this week at the 2023 Patriot League Championship. The tournament runs Wednesday, through Saturday, February 15 to 18, at Bucknell University’s Kinney Natatorium in Lewisburg, Pa.
Bill Smyth, Terriers head coach, is optimistic ahead of this year’s competition.
“With all the hard work that we’ve put in all year, we’re ready to see our fastest times of the season this weekend, and for that matter be able to dive the best that we’ve dove all year,” Smyth says. “I believe that we’ve got a shot to break quite a few school records.”
Last year, the Terrier women finished fourth in the PL championship. Sezin Eligul (CAS’22) beat her own school record of 50.25 seconds in the 100m freestyle twice on the final day of the tourney. She went under 50 seconds in Saturday’s prelims (49.98) and reset the mark once more in the finals with a time of 49.90 seconds, good for a second-place finish. Eligul won two silver medals that day.
Lara Mitchell (CAS’24) also set a school record last year. She aced a 1:58.81 in the 200m backstroke, beating a time of 1:59.45 by Katie Radin (COM’13) in 2013. Mitchell’s school record 200m backstroke earned her one of two bronze medals. She took home a second in the 100m backstroke.
While the men’s team did not set any school records or have podium finishes last year, the Terriers did finish fifth for the second consecutive year. A top-five finish for both teams is on Smyth’s agenda again this year.
“In terms of placing, we would like to be top-four for the women’s side, and top-five for the men’s side,” Smyth says. “My goal is to make sure that they’re focused on the moment and the process and not thinking about what their times or places are.”
Since joining the Patriot League in 2013, both BU squads have had strong showings, finishing in third place from 2014 until 2016 (2017 for the men). Since 2018, both the men’s and women’s teams have finished in either fourth or fifth place.
Men’s swimmer Jacob Lindner (COM’23) is confident the Terriers can return to a top-three finish. “We’re all super motivated,” Lindner says. “We’re gunning for that top-three spot. We’ve been through a lot of tough training this year. We’re looking super confident, and we’re all smiling and having a good time.”
This season, the BU swim and dive programs are 5-3 in their meet schedule, going 5-0 at the University’s Fitness and Recreation competition pool. BU last hit the pool at the Boston Open Invitational on February 3 and 4, held at home. The non-scoring meet saw 17 Terriers finish in the top 3 across 14 events, 5 of them first-place finishes. Kyle Falkstrom (Sargent’23), who holds BU’s program record in the 200 yard breastroke, finished second in the 200 yard freestyle time trial.
“He’s been our leader throughout the year, and he’s going to continue to put up some really impressive swims,” Smyth says, citing men’s swimmers Justin Lee (Questrom’24) and Ben Cho (CAS’26) as well—Cho earned silver at the Boston Open Invitational—as athletes to watch this weekend. On the women’s side, the coach says, Sydney Sorbello (ENG’24), who shares BU’s 200 yard medley relay record, and divers Sumi Cameron (Questrom’24) and Sophia Souza (CAS’25) have had impressive seasons.
“Over on the women’s side, I’m looking at Sorbello—she’s a really good shave and taper swimmer, and she’s one of our strongest, if not our strongest, people in the weight room. Once she gets some time out of the weight room, she really shoots forward and rises up the rankings overall. Also Sumi Cameron and Sophia Sousa on the diving events, they’re ranked really high and it’ll be interesting to see how that plays out.”
Cameron says she and her teammates are feeling confident going into the championship. “Both the swimmers and divers have worked really hard this season and are really looking to put down some personal bests both in the water and on the boards,” she says.
Once again, eyes will be set on the US Naval Academy, which has won 18 consecutive men’s Patriot League championship trophies, and the last 10 for the women.
The Patriot League Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships begin Wednesday, February 15, and conclude Saturday, February 18, at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa. Live coverage of the entire tournament will be streamed via ESPN+. BU fans can find more information on goterriers.com and follow along on Twitter at @TerrierSwimDive and @BUGameDay.
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