Bulls In First Place After Day One of MAC Championships

Thursday, April 15

Ypsilanti, MI

Prelims 10:30 a.m. / Finals 6:30 p.m.

Mid-American Conference Championships

Bulls In First Place After Day One of MAC Championships

4/15/2021 9:50:00 PM | Swimming and Diving

Photo Gallery

LIVE STATS (MEETMOBILE APP) | CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM | LIVESTREAMS (THURSDAY – SATURDAY) | MAC RECORD BOOK

YPSILANTI, Mich. – The University at Buffalo women's swimming and diving team (5-0, 3-0 MAC) wrapped up day one of the 2021 Mid-American Conference Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday evening. The team had a dominant day one as they earned 239 points, ranking first with two days of competition to go.

The Bulls shot out of a canon to start the championship heats. The team of Jillian Lawton, Toni Naccarella, Jenna Krull and Ellie Duley would narrowly win the 200 freestyle relay in 1:29.67. Their gold medal would beat the Akron Zips by .19-seconds. The Bulls would set a new Eastern Michigan pool record, as well as a new UB program record.

Brittney Beetcher's veteran experience was on display as she would claim the silver medal in the 500 freestyle. Her time of 4:48.34 was just shy of her own school record.

Olivia Sapio finished in fifth place in the 200 IM with a time of 2:00.86 adding 14 points to the Bulls' day one total.

In perhaps one of the most exciting events at the MAC Championships, UB would give the old 1-2 punch in the 50 freestyle. Jillian Lawton would earn the silver medal, her second of the night, in a time of 22.91-seconds. Toni Naccarella would repeat as the MAC 50 freestyle champion as she would improve her championship time to 22.37-seconds. Naccarella improved her third ranked UB time by .11-seconds.

In the diving well, the Bulls had four divers make it to the 1-meter dive finals. Victoria Franz earned the silver medal with a finals score of 293.05. Louise Bradley would just miss the podium by six points while finishing in fourth with a score of 283.15. Junior Patricia Arceri and senior Journi Northorp helped the Bulls round up the 1-meter diving finals as Arceri earned sixth place (263.65) and Northorp finishing in eighth place (249.15). In total, the UB diving team gave the Bulls 56 points.

To close out the night, the Bulls' 400 medley relay team of Nicole Roitenberg, Katie Pollock, Clarice Fisher and Lawton claimed the silver medal in a school record time. Their time of 3:36.58 was just behind the Akron Zips squad.

"I am so proud of this team," stated Head Coach Andy Bashor. "We had an okay morning, but they responded with great energy tonight. Having four divers making the finals, that is the spark we needed. We still have a lot of competition left this weekend. We are excited! Go Bulls!"

GOLD MEDALS
Elinor Duley – 200 freestyle relay
Jillian Lawton – 200 freestyle relay
Toni Naccarella – 200 freestyle relay, 50 freestyle
Jenna Krull – 200 freestyle relay

SILVER MEDALS
Brittney Beetcher – 500 freestyle
Clarice Fisher – 400 medley relay
Victoria Franz – 1-meter dive
Jillian Lawton – 50 freestyle, 400 medley relay
Katie Pollock – 400 medley relay
Nicole Roitenberg – 400 medley relay

For complete day one results, click here.

DAY ONE STANDINGS

1. BUFFALO – 239
2. Akron – 235
3. Miami (OH) – 148
4. Ohio – 114
5. Eastern Michigan – 104
T-6. Toledo – 85
Bowling Green – 85
8. Ball State – 82

CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

*FRIDAY, APRIL 16*	*SATURDAY, APRIL 17*
Preliminaries – 10:30 a.m. 400 Yard Individual Medley 100 Yard Butterfly 200 Yard Freestyle 100 Yard Breaststroke 100 Yard Backstroke Diving Preliminaries – 1 p.m. 3-meter Finals – 6 p.m. 200 Yard Medley Relay 400 Yard Individual Medley 100 Yard Butterfly 200 Yard Freestyle 100 Yard Breaststroke 100 Yard Backstroke 3-Meter Diving Consolation 800 Yard Freestyle Relay	Preliminaries – 10:30 a.m. 200 Yard Backstroke 100 Yard Freestyle 200 Yard Breaststroke 200 Yard Butterfly Finals – 6:10 p.m. Senior Recognition 1650 Yard Freestyle 200 Yard Backstroke 100 Yard Freestyle 200 Yard Breaststroke 200 Yard Butterfly 3-Meter Diving 400 Freestyle Relay Awards Ceremony

For news and updates about the UB women's swimming and diving team, follow them on Twitter and check the official website of the UB Bulls. For this season's media click, click here.