The members of the Boston University swim team let their competition know they were about to “fire it up” as they entered the pool at the Fitness and Recreation Center on Saturday. Binghamton University replied with its own pre-meet chant, but it was the Terriers who backed up their words, using a record breaking performance to nab first place in 14 events.
The BU women’s squad posted a 188-103 victory in the season opener. The Terrier women got the momentum started with a 1:51.18 win in the 200-yard medley relay. Sophomore Eve Kinsella kept the fire burning with a 1:52.27 win in the 200 freestyle. Her time broke the 18-year-old record previously held by Sue Kitchen (1:53.02). Kinsella’s teammates, sophomore Christina Ruggiero and Senior Marina Morie, helped the Terriers dominate the record-breaking 200 free by placing second and third, respectively.
Senior Tanza Irani and junior Katie Buchta flew past Binghamton quite literally as they took first and second place in the 200 butterfly event. The BU women stayed on fire all afternoon as Kinsella, Morie and freshman Ali Chester swept the top three spots in the 100 free.
Sophomore Christina Ruggerio followed that sweep with a first-place win in the 200 backstroke. The freshmen broke out in a big way for BU with Brigette O’Shaughnessey and Emily Munday taking first and second in the 50 free and Liisa Young grabbing first in the 500 free.
While the Terriers set the lanes ablaze with their stroke skills, the divers boosted BU with spectacular performances on the boards. Senior Megan White took first place in the 1-meter diving competition with a score of 242.03.
Sophomore Alex Crerer placed second in the 1-meter and first in the 3-meter competitions with scores of 238.13 and 283.05 respectively. On the men’s side, sophomore Brian Lawler dominated the Bearcats with first place finishes in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving competitions. Lawler put up a spectacular performance in the 3-meter dives receiving scored of 8 and 7.5 in round one and ending just as strong with an amazing back twisting dive.
Despite great performances by many of its swimmers, the men’s team lost 172-112 to the Bearcats. The team opened up strong with a second place finish in the 200-yard medley relay.
Senior Griffin Moodie grabbed second with a fast 1:00.23 100 breaststroke. The freshmen performed well in their first meet led by Ben Kaiser who nabbed first in the 1,000 free with a time of 10:39.57 seconds. Arik Seiler also contributed with a third place finish in the 100 backstroke.
The men’s team boasts only 17 members, but this doesn’t mean they should be underestimated. Coach Bill Smyth sees the smaller numbers as a benefit as far as camaraderie and individual improvement.
“They are not just teammates, but they are all really good friends,” Smyth said. “We are building an environment for success. We are just at the beginning stages of it.”
Freshman John Passaro, who swims freestyle and individual medley, agrees with his coach.
“We are an extremely close knit team,” he said. “The freshmen view the upperclassmen as big brothers. If any of us ever have a question …… they take no hesitation to do their best to help us.”
“Brigette O’Shaunessey, Emily Munday and Alie Chester are really going to be people you want to watch,” Smyth said. “And all of our guys on the freshmen side are going to be doing some really good things.”
