Saturday, January 26
Lewisburg, Pa.
1 p.m.
Lehigh University
at
Bucknell University
Photo by: Brent Hugo
Mountain Hawks set for regular season finale at Bucknell
1/25/2019 10:41:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
Women try for best record since 1997-98; Men since 2010-11
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The dual season wraps up this weekend with Lehigh's final push before the Patriot League Championships in Lewisburg next month. Lehigh swimming and diving prepare to take on rival Bucknell on Saturday in the final meet of the regular season for both the men and the women. The men are looking to end the year on a high note after a loss to Army West Point their last time out, while the women are aiming to extend their winning streak to eight and finish 8-1 for the first time season the 1997-98 season.
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The Mountain Hawk women are having a historic season, especially showing how well they can swim against a perennially solid Army squad, defeating the Black Knights 164.5-135.5 on Jan. 11 to improve to 7-1 overall, 4-0 in the Patriot League.
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With league victories over Boston U., Loyola, Lafayette and Army West Point, Lehigh sets its sights on Bucknell, who come into the weekend with an identical 7-1 overall record and a strong 5-1 mark in the Patriot League.
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The Mountain Hawks are lucky to have gotten strong performances from their sprinters the last couple meets, but particularly strong days out of junior Payton Miles and sophomore Ann Foley against Army, who both put together big finishes in the freestyle events, with Foley getting the edge over Miles in the 50 by just .02 seconds and also getting the win in the 200, with a 1:51.65 over senior Courtney Ferreira (1:53.20) and freshman Carly Rutledge (1:57.86). Miles pulled out the win in the 100, with a winning time of 51.75 over Ferreira (52.05) and Foley (52.29). Lehigh has enjoyed races where the 1-2-3 sweep has played an effect on the outcome of the meet, and the Mountain Hawks utilized just that in four different occurrences.
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The Lehigh women divers have had success as of late, but with stiffer competition in Army especially. Senior Rayna Smilowitz has been strong on the boards for the Mountain Hawks, scoring a 222.90 against Army for a fourth place finish in the one-meter and getting a third place podium finish in the three-meter dive with a 223.88.
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The Bucknell women are a tougher test than most of the teams the Mountain Hawks have faced this season. The Bison are searching for their third straight dual victory after wins over Army and Loyola. Bucknell defeated the Black Knights 174-126 a day after the Mountain Hawks got the victory. Senior Julie Byrne comes in to Saturday's meet as the Bison's top swimmer. She won a combined five events against Loyola and Army in the 100 and 200 backstroke and the 200 IM. Freestylist Maddie Hartigan comes into the meet having won three events last weekend in the 100, 200 and 500, while Abigail Rosenberg won two in the 50 and 100 free against Loyola.
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"Both teams are in the same position, we're both in the thick of training and both of us can do very well at Patriots," said head coach Rob Herb. "I don't think either of us want to give an inch here, we're both focused on the end game, we are, and I'm sure they are.
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"It's going to be a brawl. They're strong where we aren't, we're strong where they aren't and its going to come down to who is healthier and right now we are battling some health issues."
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The last matchup between these two teams came on Jan. 20, 2018 in Bethlehem, where Bucknell bested Lehigh 171-129 to hand the Mountain Hawks their first Patriot League defeat of the season. The Bison lead the all-time series, 29-10, winning 10 of the past 11 meetings. The last time Lehigh visited Kinney Natatorium resulted in a decisive 166.5-133.5 win on Jan. 21, 2017.
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The Lehigh men face a similar test as the women on Saturday, but are looking to avenge their last defeat to Army on Jan. 11 when they take on the Bison. The Mountain Hawks' five-meet win streak was snapped by the Black Knights on Senior Day, but familiar faces put Lehigh in a good position to gain some more ground on the Bison heading into the Patriot League Championships next month.
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Junior Walker Wilson continues to be the Mountain Hawks' steady contributor for putting points on the scoreboard as the freestylist took victories in the 200 and 500 events against Army. He is coming off a second place finish in the 50 when he swam a 21.37, but remains a threat in that event no matter who his opponent is.
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"Walker is just getting stronger," said Herb. "Yesterday (Thursday), he attacked a set that I thought was going to be a little too challenging for him and he just absorbed it.
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"He just continues to make himself a whole other degree of this whole process and I do see him continue to do very well, the expectations are all relative but I think that when it comes to our team and our history, he's setting the mark."
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The Mountain Hawks want to get as many swimmers involved as possible and the team is excited to get some big finishes out of a lot of their guys on Saturday, especially Teddy Smith, Kevin Fleck and Greg Giannella.
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"I definitely see Teddy, who has surprised everybody this season and I think that Kevin is always a surprise no matter what.
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"Greg Giannella didn't get his chance last year, but this kid has just turned it around and we just can't wait to see him go in the pool."
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Against Army, Lehigh was in a very consistent position to capture second place finishes. The 200 medley relay team of Owen Thomas, Tyler Christ, Smith and Giannella took second with a time of 1:34.05. The 400 free relay continues to be a strongpoint for the Mountain Hawks as Joey Rogers, Giannella, Max Goldenberg and Wilson proved against Army with a first place finish of 3:07.16.
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The Bison got the 170-119 victory over Loyola last Friday before falling to the Black Knights themselves, 203.5-91.5. Bucknell's 11 first place finishes lifted them over the Greyhounds thanks to Chadd Cummings (100, 200 breast) and Matt McGoey (200 free, 200 back).
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As for diving, Lehigh is led by sophomore Tyler Keller, who got a pair of second-place finishes in the one and three meter dives against Army. He'll be up against Bucknell's Garrett Sommer, who two first place finishes against Loyola in both events.
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Despite snapping a six-meet losing streak to the Bison last year at Jacobs Pool, Lehigh trails Bucknell in the all-time series, 37-19. This will be the 57th meeting between the two programs.
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Like Lehigh Swimming and Diving on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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The Mountain Hawk women are having a historic season, especially showing how well they can swim against a perennially solid Army squad, defeating the Black Knights 164.5-135.5 on Jan. 11 to improve to 7-1 overall, 4-0 in the Patriot League.
Â
With league victories over Boston U., Loyola, Lafayette and Army West Point, Lehigh sets its sights on Bucknell, who come into the weekend with an identical 7-1 overall record and a strong 5-1 mark in the Patriot League.
Â
The Mountain Hawks are lucky to have gotten strong performances from their sprinters the last couple meets, but particularly strong days out of junior Payton Miles and sophomore Ann Foley against Army, who both put together big finishes in the freestyle events, with Foley getting the edge over Miles in the 50 by just .02 seconds and also getting the win in the 200, with a 1:51.65 over senior Courtney Ferreira (1:53.20) and freshman Carly Rutledge (1:57.86). Miles pulled out the win in the 100, with a winning time of 51.75 over Ferreira (52.05) and Foley (52.29). Lehigh has enjoyed races where the 1-2-3 sweep has played an effect on the outcome of the meet, and the Mountain Hawks utilized just that in four different occurrences.
Â
The Lehigh women divers have had success as of late, but with stiffer competition in Army especially. Senior Rayna Smilowitz has been strong on the boards for the Mountain Hawks, scoring a 222.90 against Army for a fourth place finish in the one-meter and getting a third place podium finish in the three-meter dive with a 223.88.
Â
The Bucknell women are a tougher test than most of the teams the Mountain Hawks have faced this season. The Bison are searching for their third straight dual victory after wins over Army and Loyola. Bucknell defeated the Black Knights 174-126 a day after the Mountain Hawks got the victory. Senior Julie Byrne comes in to Saturday's meet as the Bison's top swimmer. She won a combined five events against Loyola and Army in the 100 and 200 backstroke and the 200 IM. Freestylist Maddie Hartigan comes into the meet having won three events last weekend in the 100, 200 and 500, while Abigail Rosenberg won two in the 50 and 100 free against Loyola.
Â
"Both teams are in the same position, we're both in the thick of training and both of us can do very well at Patriots," said head coach Rob Herb. "I don't think either of us want to give an inch here, we're both focused on the end game, we are, and I'm sure they are.
Â
"It's going to be a brawl. They're strong where we aren't, we're strong where they aren't and its going to come down to who is healthier and right now we are battling some health issues."
Â
The last matchup between these two teams came on Jan. 20, 2018 in Bethlehem, where Bucknell bested Lehigh 171-129 to hand the Mountain Hawks their first Patriot League defeat of the season. The Bison lead the all-time series, 29-10, winning 10 of the past 11 meetings. The last time Lehigh visited Kinney Natatorium resulted in a decisive 166.5-133.5 win on Jan. 21, 2017.
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The Lehigh men face a similar test as the women on Saturday, but are looking to avenge their last defeat to Army on Jan. 11 when they take on the Bison. The Mountain Hawks' five-meet win streak was snapped by the Black Knights on Senior Day, but familiar faces put Lehigh in a good position to gain some more ground on the Bison heading into the Patriot League Championships next month.
Â
Junior Walker Wilson continues to be the Mountain Hawks' steady contributor for putting points on the scoreboard as the freestylist took victories in the 200 and 500 events against Army. He is coming off a second place finish in the 50 when he swam a 21.37, but remains a threat in that event no matter who his opponent is.
Â
"Walker is just getting stronger," said Herb. "Yesterday (Thursday), he attacked a set that I thought was going to be a little too challenging for him and he just absorbed it.
Â
"He just continues to make himself a whole other degree of this whole process and I do see him continue to do very well, the expectations are all relative but I think that when it comes to our team and our history, he's setting the mark."
Â
The Mountain Hawks want to get as many swimmers involved as possible and the team is excited to get some big finishes out of a lot of their guys on Saturday, especially Teddy Smith, Kevin Fleck and Greg Giannella.
Â
"I definitely see Teddy, who has surprised everybody this season and I think that Kevin is always a surprise no matter what.
Â
"Greg Giannella didn't get his chance last year, but this kid has just turned it around and we just can't wait to see him go in the pool."
Â
Against Army, Lehigh was in a very consistent position to capture second place finishes. The 200 medley relay team of Owen Thomas, Tyler Christ, Smith and Giannella took second with a time of 1:34.05. The 400 free relay continues to be a strongpoint for the Mountain Hawks as Joey Rogers, Giannella, Max Goldenberg and Wilson proved against Army with a first place finish of 3:07.16.
Â
The Bison got the 170-119 victory over Loyola last Friday before falling to the Black Knights themselves, 203.5-91.5. Bucknell's 11 first place finishes lifted them over the Greyhounds thanks to Chadd Cummings (100, 200 breast) and Matt McGoey (200 free, 200 back).
Â
As for diving, Lehigh is led by sophomore Tyler Keller, who got a pair of second-place finishes in the one and three meter dives against Army. He'll be up against Bucknell's Garrett Sommer, who two first place finishes against Loyola in both events.
Â
Despite snapping a six-meet losing streak to the Bison last year at Jacobs Pool, Lehigh trails Bucknell in the all-time series, 37-19. This will be the 57th meeting between the two programs.
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Like Lehigh Swimming and Diving on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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Players Mentioned
Breast/IM
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Fly/Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Dive
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free/Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Free/IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Dive
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly/Free
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Back/Fly
/ Men's Swimming and Diving
Back/Free
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