BUFFALO, New York – The Cleveland State women's swimming and diving team competed against Buffalo on Saturday afternoon at the Alumni Arena Natatorium on the campus of the University of Buffalo. The Lady Vikes fell to the Lady Bulls 167-82.
Saturday's meet marked the first time the women's team has competed since senior day on February 27, 2021.
THE MEET
"It was an awesome experience for our women's team to get in the pool and compete," said head coach Hannah Burandt. "For these ladies to race and throw down some incredible efforts was amazing. There's a difference between racing in practice and racing in an actual meet and this was a major win for our women's team culture."
Sophomore Caroline Hughes posted a lifetime best in the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:05.96. Hughes also swam in the 200-yard freestyle (2:02.33) and was part of the second place 200-yard freestyle relay team and 200-yard medley relay.
Rachel Contich finished top-five in each of her events on the day, which included second-place in the 100-yard freestyle (54.60). Contich swam alongside Huges, Emily Deitz and Irena Weclawiak in the 200-yard freestyle relay, while also finishing fourth in the 200-yard medley relay and 200-yard freestyle.
"Our team kept getting back up and fighting," said Burandt. "They were loud and they got behind one another and had a ton of fun."
Freshman Jordan Stump notched a third-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly, posting a time of 1:01.82, while junior Emily Deitz recorded a fourth-place finish in the 50 free with a time of 24.90.
On the diving board for the Green and White, Erica Henrichsen snagged a second-place finish on the one-meter and three-meter boards with scores of 222.83 and 2224.40, respectively. Maggie Micko finished right behind Henrichsen, scoring 198.90 in the one-meter diving and 188.93 in the three-meter.
"Our divers are amazing," Burandt said. "Their resiliency all season long is a true testament to their character and to Coach (Rich) Karban's leadership. Diving is as much of a mental game than anything and for Erica and Maggie to step up and compete, and produce impressive results, says a lot about who they are as individuals and who Coach Karban is as a coach."
Prior to departing for Buffalo on Saturday, the men's team surprised the women's team and wished them luck. See the surprise HERE.
"It was incredible for our men to surprise our women like that," Burandt stated. "Our men leaned in and supported our women and our women supported one another. It was a great day for Cleveland State swimming and diving."
UP NEXT
Cleveland State swimming and diving will compete next in the Horizon League's conference meet, set to take place on the campus of IUPUI beginning on April 5.
