Kwak Takes Gold At Day Two Of MAC Championships

Thursday, February 29

Athens, OH

All Day

MAC Championships

Kwak Takes Gold At Day Two Of MAC Championships

2/29/2024 9:21:00 PM | Swimming and Diving

ATHENS, OHIO – The University at Buffalo Swimming & Diving team competed in day two of the MAC Championships on Thursday, finishing the night in fourth place with 158 points. Marialis Kwak's gold medal highlighted day two for the Bulls, as the team had three personal best performances and four season best performances.

Kwak won her MAC Championship in one-meter diving with a score of 313.00, a new personal best for the junior that ranks third all-time in program history. Presley Dorsett placed seventh in the finals, as Sophie Meuwissen took ninth and Maggie Meyers finished 12^th. All four Buffalo divers earned points for the Bulls.

In the preliminary round Kwak finished in first place too with a score of 299.35. Dorsett took second with a score of 279.55,earning a spot in the finals, as Meuwissen (12^th, 138.60) and Meyers (13^th, 235.80) made the consolation round with their finishes. Mallory Hanna (21^st, 222.70) and Kaylee Donovan (31^st, 179.65) also competed in the preliminary round for the Bulls.

Marij van der Mast finished in fifth place in the 500 yard freestyle with a time of 4:53.18, earning 14 points for the Bulls with her podium finish. Buffalo opened the day with a third place finish from van der Mast in the preliminary round of the 500 freestyle and a season best time of 4:52.17. Karen Austin placed 17^th in the prelims with a season best time of 5:00.16, missing the cut for the consolation round by less than a second. Ava Cunningham (21^st, 5:01.08), Elise McCaul (5:01.47), Kaley Ream (36^th, 5:09.42) and Grace Wood (37^th, 5:14.90) also competed in the preliminary round for the Bulls. Cunningham and Wood's times were also season bests.

In the 50 yard freestyle Mia Naccarella took 10th place with a time of 22.92, earning seven points for Buffalo. Naccarella's finals time was a new personal best for the senior. In the preliminary round of the 50 yard freestyle, Naccarella placed ninth with a time of 23.11. Amanda Jurgelon (25^th, 23.95), Alicia Wood (28^th, 24.02), Vivian Roy (32^nd, 24.22) and Nicole Burton (40^th, 25.06) also competed in the 50 freestyle for the Bulls. Jurgelon and Burton's times were new personal bests for the freshmen.

Clarice Fisher finished 14^th in the finals round of the 200 yard individual medley, earning three points for Buffalo. All four of the Bulls' swimmers in the preliminary round swam season best times. Fisher was the highest finisher for Buffalo in the prelims, placing 15^th with a time of 2:04.00. Nicole Aguilar missed the consolation round by less than a second, taking 20^th with a time of 2:04.91. Kasey Keaney (23^rd, 2:05.42) and Grace Rider (25^th, 2:05.56) also competed for the Bulls.

The Bulls closed out day two with a fourth place finish in the 400 yard medley relay and a time of 3:33.55. Naccarella, Grace Rider, Fisher and Aguilar's relay time now ranks sixth all-time in program history.

DAY TWO STANDINGS

1. Akron	289.5
2. Miami of Ohio	241.5
3. Ohio	202
4. Buffalo	158
5. Ball State	137
6. Eastern Michigan	126
7. Toledo	103
8. Bowling Green	49

Day three of MAC Championships continues on Friday morning at 10am with the preliminary rounds of the 100 butterfly, 400 yard individual medley, 200 yard freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 100 yard backstroke. Finals then begin at 6pm.

All information from the MAC Championships including results, live streams and event lists can be accessed here.

For more coverage, check out the official website of the Buffalo Bulls, and follow the program on Instagram (@UBSwimDiveTeam), X (@UBSwimDiveTeam) and Facebook ("Buffalo Bulls Swimming and Diving").