For Immediate Release: October 10, 2009
Contact: Ian Milne (sports1@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

BU swimming & diving opens season at WNY Invitational with authority
Men and Women combine for 12 individual wins

[Full Results...]

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Binghamton men's and women's swimming and diving teams opened up its 2009-10 season at the Western New York Invitational, hosted by the University at Buffalo.

There was no team scoring in the meet that also included men's and women's squads from University at Buffalo, Niagara, Canisus and Saint Bonaventure.

Freshmen David Gleason won the first race of the day for the Bearcats, taking the 500 free with a time of 4:46.30. Close behind, sophomore Nolan Slesnick clocked in at 4:48.08 for second place.

Gleason also took the 200 free (1:43.85) and placed sixth in the 100 back (55.19) while Slesnick won the 1000 free (9:51.03) and took fifth in the 200 breast (2:15.87) and seventh in the 200 free (1:48.01)

Sophomore Joe Perez-Rogers had a busy meet; he captured the 50 free in a time of 21.72, placed first in the 100 back (52.43), took fifth in the 100 breast (1:02.36) and placed sixth in the 100 free (48.01).

Junior Jason Chen touched first in the 200 IM (1:57.67) while freshman Josh Saccurato placed sixth with a time of 2:02.67. Chen also won the 100 fly (52.16) and placed third in the 100 breast (1:02.00) and the 100 free (47.73). Saccurato, not to be left out, captured a title of his own a short while later when he took the 200 fly (2:00.52).

Senior Ziyad Rouhana placed third in the 200 fly (2:03.37) and eighth in the 100 fly (54.24). Senior captain Cole Courtemanche took fifth in the 1000 free (10:23.30).

On the boards sophomore Nick Turner won the three meter with a zone qualifying score.

Freshman Tin Wai Siu captured the first win of the day for the women, capturing the 200 fly (2:04.29) which was good for second on the Bearcats All-Time Top-10 list. The only Bearcat to swim faster was, now assistant coach, Yun Qu. Siu also won the 100 fly (57.31)

Junior Amanda Ciccone picked up the second win for the women taking the 200 free with a time of 1:55.38, while placing second in the 100 back (1:01.40) and the 100 free (53.11), this time just ahead of Siu who came in third (53.68).

Ciccone also edged out her freshman teammates Caitlin Nelson (25.32) and Olivia Baczek (25.41) in the 50 free, placing third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Freshman Melissa Lindahl took third in the 200 breast (2:12.04), with Baczek just behind in fourth (2:12.47). Lindahl also placed fifth in the 100 back (1:02.08)

Senior Allyce Brand took third in the 100 breast (1:09.10) with junior Daniello Gallo placing sixth (1:11.20). Gallo also placed fourth in the 200 breast (2:32.42).

Senior Taryn Ferrara placed sixth in the 200 IM, (2:18.53) just ahead of teammate junior Brittany Detlef (2:19.42).

"We're pretty pleased with our first effort of the year. This is definitely our best performance at this event. It was nice to see our returnees a little sharper than last year here. We're young, but we've got a good core of guys," said head coach Sean Clark after the meet. "On the women's side we showed a little sparkle as well. We really did come to swim. We had 10 different women do 14 lifetime best-times which is really impressive this early in the season."

The Bearcat men and women have a three week break before they are back in action hosting Boston University, with UVM, Saturday, October 31.