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Bulldogs open 2013-14 with BC on Friday
Posted: Oct 10, 2013

Bulldogs open 2013-14 with BC on Friday

Recap Results

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off one of the most successful seasons in Bryant University swimming history, the Bulldogs men's and women's swimming and diving teams open the 2013-14 season on Friday, Oct. 11 when they host Boston College at the Chace Athletic Center Pool at 5:00 p.m.

The men's team capped their first season in the MAAC with a fifth-place finish at the championship meet, while the women recorded their highest point total and finished third at the Northeast Conference championships.
Led by ninth-year head coach Katie Cameron, both squads enter the year with even bigger aspirations. On the women's side, the Black and Gold will have to replace four-time NEC Swimmer of the Year Casey Ostrander. Senior Taylor DeBever (Denver, Colo.) enters her final year in Smithfield with the opportunity to fill that void. A two-time gold medalist in the 200 free, DeBever is the school record holder in the 200 and 500 free events. The Black and Gold will also look to an experienced group of underclassmen that shined last season. Jamie Schaefer (Durham, N.C.) set school records in the 100 and 200 fly, earning a bronze medal, Elisabeth Schauer (Pelham, N.Y.) capped her rookie season with silver medal in the 200 back and Maria Messina (Canandaigua, N.Y.) set school records in the 1000 and 1650 at the championships.
 
The men will have a tough task as well trying to fill the void left by Alex Kosenski. A gold medalist at the MAAC championships last year, Kosenski proved himself to be one of the best swimmers in program history. Looking to fill those shoes will be senior Nicholas Karadimas (New Milford, Conn.) who broke Kosenski's program record in the 50 free with a second-place finish at the MAAC championships last year. Classmate Cameron Hessler (Southbury, Conn.), juniorGraham Beck (Danvers, Mass.) and sophomore Joshua Bjornberg (Wallingford, Conn.). Hessler holds the school record in the 100 back and is a member of the school-record holding 200 and 400 medley relays. Beck holds school records in the 500 free and the 100 and 200 breast events, while Bjornberg earned three finals appearances and helped the 200 and 400 free and the 200 and 400 medley relay teams set school records as a rookie.
 
Friday's meet with Boston College is the first of seven dual meets for the women and men on the year. The Bulldogs will also compete in the URI Invitational and host St. Francis Brooklyn and NJIT in a tri-meet on January 19.