Bulls Rise the Standings to Second on Day Two of MAC Championships in Buffalo

Thursday, February 27

Buffalo, NY

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University at Buffalo

MAC Championships

Photo by: Ken Smith/UBBulls.com

Bulls Rise the Standings to Second on Day Two of MAC Championships in Buffalo

2/27/2025 9:30:00 PM | Swimming and Diving

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BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo swimming and diving team hosted day two of the MAC Swimming and Diving Championships in an energy-packed Alumni Arena Natatorium. The Bulls fed off the energy for the second night in a row, rising to second in the standings with a score of 228.

Ava Cunningham set the tone for the Bulls in the 500-yard freestyle finals, finishing third to earn a bronze medal and 16 points for the Bulls with a personal record time of 4:51.83. Cunningham's time rose to sixth in the program ranks. Elise McCaul trailed with a personal record time of her own (4:55.51), finishing seventh to earn 12 points for the Bulls. The junior's time fell just shy of the program's all-time top ten by less than half of a second (4:55.05).

Cunningham qualified for the 500-yard freestyle finals with a time of 4:53.16 to finish second of 31 swimmers. The junior's time rose the program ranks to take seventh all-time in the event, later setting a new personal record in the finals. McCaul finished the preliminary round with a then-season best time of 4:56.93 to qualify for the finals.

Abbey Gardner missed the finals cut by less than a tenth of a second (4:58.16), taking ninth in the field of 31 with a time of 4:58.25. Gardner later opened night two for the Bulls with a personal record time of 4:54.56 to join the all-time record books with the ninth-ranked time.

Karen Austin missed the finals cut of the 500-yard freestyle, placing 25th, but posted a season-best time of 5:06.39. The junior's time beat her previous season best by over five seconds.

Isabella Forsman continued the Bulls' momentum in the 200-yard individual medley finals with a new personal record time of 2:01.15 to finish fourth in the event and earn 15 points for Buffalo. Forsman's time rose the program ranks to sixth all-time.

Grace Rider also set a new personal best time in the 200-yard individual medley finals. The sophomore's time of 2:01.91 earned sixth in the finals and 13 points for the Bulls, taking ninth on the program's all-time list.
Forsman placed third in the preliminary round of the event, finishing the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:01.52 to qualify for the finals. Rider made the finals with a time of 2:03.31.

Nicole Aguilar qualified for the consolation finals by placing 14th in the preliminary round of the event with a time of 2:03.90. Aguilar won the consolation finals with a time of 2:02.12, just shy of her personal record (2:01.38) that ranks seventh in program history.

Mia Naccarella set a new personal record of 22.72 in the 50-yard freestyle finals to take sixth place and earn 13 points for the Bulls. The fifth year's time entered the program ranks to place sixth all-time.

Before the finals, Naccarella had the Bulls' fastest 50-yard freestyle time of the season, placing eighth of 53 swimmers to make the cut. The fifth year's time of 22.98 fell just shy of her record of 22.92.

Jillian Strine finished the 50-yard freestyle preliminary round with a season-best time of 23.38 to place 17th and be the first alternate for the consolation finals. Vivian Roy (33rd, 24.06) also set a new season best. Amanda Jurgelon (34th, 24.08), Sawyer Bosley (35th, 24.10), Amanda Neeb (40th, 24.48) and Ava Pauly (44th, 24.68) all competed in the preliminary round too.

The Bulls closed out the night by taking fourth in the 400-yard medley relay. The team of Naccarella, Rider, Aguilar and Strine set the 4th fastest time in program history.

DIVING WELL
Marialis Kwak continued her undefeated streak in the diving well, winning the one-meter finals with a score of 312.05 to earn 20 points for the Bulls. Kwak has not lost an individual diving event all season, winning 16 straight events. The senior has now won five MAC medals throughout her career and four gold medals.

Mallory Hanna brought home her first MAC medal with a third-place finish in the one-meter diving finals and a score of 256.90 to add 16 points to Buffalo's score. Hanna also took second in the preliminary round of the event with a score of 256.90.

Sophomore Sophie Meuwissen placed sixth in the one-meter finals with a score of 240.55 to earn 13 points for the Bulls. Meuwissen finished third in the preliminary round to qualify for the finals with a score of 254.00
Presley Dorsett missed the finals cut by just over two points (240.60), finishing ninth in the preliminary round with a score of 238.20. Dorsett went on to take first place in the consolation finals and ninth overall in the event with a score of 260.85.

Kaylee Donovan (18th, 224.35), Maggie Meyers (19th, 220.15) and Daphne Fox (25th, 208.55) all competed for the Bulls in the preliminary round too.

The diving championships continue tomorrow at 12:30 pm with the preliminary round of three-meter diving. All diving results can be accessed here.

DAY TWO STANDINGS

Akron	264
Buffalo	228
Ohio	215.5
Miami (OH)	203
Ball State	117.5
Bowling Green	96
Eastern Michigan	92
Toledo	75

MAC Swimming & Diving Championships continue with the preliminary round of day two beginning at 10 am on Friday. All information regarding conference championships can be found here.

For all the latest on UB Swimming & Diving, 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").

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