University at Buffalo
Cornell
10/16/2026 11:13:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo swimming and diving program is opening the 2026-2027 season in the Broadview Arena Natatorium on Saturday, with competition in the pool beginning at 12 p.m. The Bulls will host the Cornell University Big Red and Niagara University Purple Eagles. The competition against Cornell will not be scored.
Saturday marks the second consecutive year that the programs will compete in a tri-meet. The Bulls opened last season by beating the Purple Eagles, 213-85, advancing to 37-7 all-time against Niagara.
The Bulls enter the 2026-27 campaign with 21 returning student-athletes and seven newcomers. Junior Bella Forsman and sophomore Kamilla Nemes return to Buffalo as the program's All-Mid-American Conference honorees from last season. Sophomore Pinar Donmez set a new school record in the 200-yard backstroke as a freshman (2:13.30), also placing fourth in the finals of the event at MAC Championships. Sophie Meuwissen enters her senior season in the diving well after earning
MAC medals the past two seasons at conference championships. Adele Melamud had a successful first-year campaign in the diving well, becoming the first swimmer or diver in program history to compete at NCAA Championships as a freshman.
The 2026 freshman class for the Bulls features athletes from two countries and six states.
- Alice Bartola comes to Buffalo from Milan, Italy, joining Alex Bulat, Donmez, Melamud and Nemes as international student-athletes.
- The Bulls welcomed Elisabeth Breck from Niceville, Florida, where she took first place at the FHSAA Class 3A State Championship in the 100-yard backstroke (55.30).
- Alyssa Chambers comes to UB from Washington, Michigan, where she ranked top five in the 100-yard freestyle (52.67) at state championships.
- Talynn O'Donnell comes to Buffalo from Mahomet, Illinois, where she finished eighth in the 100-yard freestyle (59.80) at the Illinois-Senior Championships.
- Agata Puchala joins the program from Cumming, Georgia. Puchala placed third in the 100-yard butterfly (56.58) and fifth in the 200-yard individual medley (2:06.68) at the GHSA 6A State Championships.
- Bridget Reilly is a Buffalo native, coming to UB from Williamsville South High School. Reilly placed sixth at the NYSPHSAA Girls State Championship in the 200-yard freestyle (1:51.65) and eighth in the 1,500-yard freestyle (17:37.22) at the USA Swimming Futures Championship in Madison, Wisconsin.
- Sophie Thornburg rounds out the freshman class, coming to Buffalo from Durham, North Carolina. Thornburg finished seventh in the 500-yard freestyle at the NCHSAA 4A State Championships.
The Bulls open the season against Cornell and Niagara in the Broadview Arena Natatorium at noon on Saturday. The meet can be streamed on YouTube. A full schedule for UB Swimming & Diving.
For all the latest on Buffalo Swimming & Diving, check out the official website of the Buffalo Bulls, and follow the program on Instagram (@UBuffaloSD), X (@UBuffaloSD) and Facebook ("Buffalo Bulls Swimming and Diving").
