Swimming and Diving Compete at North Country Invitational
Two Buffalo State divers took a first place finish as Buffalo State’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams participated at the North Country Invitational hosted by Potsdam this weekend. The men’s team took a third place finish out of four teams with a score of 387. A second place finish was awarded to the women’s team as they posted 471 total points.
Bret Stodolka (Darien/Alexander) took first place in the 3-meter diving competition on Saturday. The senior posted a score of 202.35 on the board. Nicole Rutkowski (Williamsville/Williamsville North) finished first on the 1-meter with a score of 227.90. She also took a first place finish on the 3-meter with a 251.45 score.
On Friday night, the men’s team placed first and second in the 500-yard freestyle. Eric Hastings (Wilmington, DE/Mt. Pleasant) finished the race at 5:14.68 to take first while teammate Rich Gaczewski (North Tonawanda/North Tonawanda) swam to a second place finish in 5:19.79. The men also took a second place finish in the 400-yard medley relay. Michael Luther (Blasdell/Frontier), Kevin Buisman (Rochester/Penfield), Gaczewski and Derek Stoklosa (West Seneca/West Seneca West) finished at 3:53.26.
On Saturday, Hastings took another first place finish, this time in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 18:32.80. He also took second place in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:55.77 and second in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:55.77. Other standouts on the men’s side were Stoklosa, who placed first in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 52.45 while notching third in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:58.90. Gaczewski placed second in the 200-yard butterfly at 2:16.50. Buisman was awarded with two second place finishes. He posted a time of 2:25.68 in the 200-yard breaststroke and 4:38.94 in the 400-yard medley. The 200-yard relay team of Luther, Buisman, Vince Wasneechak (Fairfax, VA/Lemoore (CA)) and Stoklosa placed second with a time of 1:47.58.
On the women’s side, Friday night, Sara Weinert (South Byron/Byron-Bergen) placed second in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:36.83 and second in the 1650-yard freestyle at 19:29.47. Marie Ryer (Buffalo/Hutch Tech) swam 26.31 giving her second in the 50-yard freestyle. Katie Perusich (Kenmore/Kenmore East) placed second with a time of 1:06.39 in the 100-yard butterfly.
Ryer posted a time of 59.46 in the 100-yard freestyle giving her a second place finish on Saturday. Perusich also took a second place finish. She swam at 2:32.15 in the 200-yard butterfly. Weinert, Susan Stiner (Niagara Falls/Niagara Falls) and Ryer took second, third and fourth, respectively in the 200-yard freestyle. Weinert came in at 2:07.23 while Stiner posted a time of 2:11.39. Close behind her was Ryer at 2:12.77. The women’s 400-yard freestyle relay team of Perusich, Ryer, Stiner and Weinert took a second place finish with a time of 3:54.80 to wrap up the day.
The Bengals will travel to compete in the Grove City Invitational on Dec. 3 and 4.
Bret Stodolka (Darien/Alexander) took first place in the 3-meter diving competition on Saturday. The senior posted a score of 202.35 on the board. Nicole Rutkowski (Williamsville/Williamsville North) finished first on the 1-meter with a score of 227.90. She also took a first place finish on the 3-meter with a 251.45 score.
On Friday night, the men’s team placed first and second in the 500-yard freestyle. Eric Hastings (Wilmington, DE/Mt. Pleasant) finished the race at 5:14.68 to take first while teammate Rich Gaczewski (North Tonawanda/North Tonawanda) swam to a second place finish in 5:19.79. The men also took a second place finish in the 400-yard medley relay. Michael Luther (Blasdell/Frontier), Kevin Buisman (Rochester/Penfield), Gaczewski and Derek Stoklosa (West Seneca/West Seneca West) finished at 3:53.26.
On Saturday, Hastings took another first place finish, this time in the 1650-yard freestyle with a time of 18:32.80. He also took second place in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:55.77 and second in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:55.77. Other standouts on the men’s side were Stoklosa, who placed first in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 52.45 while notching third in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:58.90. Gaczewski placed second in the 200-yard butterfly at 2:16.50. Buisman was awarded with two second place finishes. He posted a time of 2:25.68 in the 200-yard breaststroke and 4:38.94 in the 400-yard medley. The 200-yard relay team of Luther, Buisman, Vince Wasneechak (Fairfax, VA/Lemoore (CA)) and Stoklosa placed second with a time of 1:47.58.
On the women’s side, Friday night, Sara Weinert (South Byron/Byron-Bergen) placed second in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:36.83 and second in the 1650-yard freestyle at 19:29.47. Marie Ryer (Buffalo/Hutch Tech) swam 26.31 giving her second in the 50-yard freestyle. Katie Perusich (Kenmore/Kenmore East) placed second with a time of 1:06.39 in the 100-yard butterfly.
Ryer posted a time of 59.46 in the 100-yard freestyle giving her a second place finish on Saturday. Perusich also took a second place finish. She swam at 2:32.15 in the 200-yard butterfly. Weinert, Susan Stiner (Niagara Falls/Niagara Falls) and Ryer took second, third and fourth, respectively in the 200-yard freestyle. Weinert came in at 2:07.23 while Stiner posted a time of 2:11.39. Close behind her was Ryer at 2:12.77. The women’s 400-yard freestyle relay team of Perusich, Ryer, Stiner and Weinert took a second place finish with a time of 3:54.80 to wrap up the day.
The Bengals will travel to compete in the Grove City Invitational on Dec. 3 and 4.
Media Contact:
Kelly Sieber, Sports Information Assistant | 7168786030 | sieberka@buffalostate.edu