The women’s swimming and diving team dominated the Niagara Purple Eagles 154-79 during its final away meet before A10’s.
The Bonnies were led by freshman Rachel Taylor and senior Tanja Kirmse. Both women won two events during the meet last Saturday. Taylor won the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke events. Kirmse finished first in both the 200 yard IM and the 100-yard freestyle.
Kirmse, whose hometown is Burghausen, Germany, was a member of the 800 yard freestyle relay team that finished in seventh at A10’s a year ago.
Senior Shannon Haberman, who won the 500-yard freestyle, knows the team has to be tired and sore as of late due to the team preparing for A10’s, but she was proud of her teammates’ effort, she said.
“We have been training hard this semester in preparation for the A10 meet so there has been very little rest,” Haberman said. “However, we were mentally tough and we fought in each event through the soreness in order to beat Niagara.”
As a junior, Haberman placed 20th in the 1650-yard freestyle at the A10 championship meet.
The Bonnies are heading into their final meet before A10’s when they face The State University of New York at Buffalo Bulls tonight at home starting at 4.
The seniors are beginning to realize how emotional this meet could be, because today is their final home meet as a Bonnie.
“It is a bittersweet feeling. I am feeling emotional as it will be my last time performing at Bonaventure with my teammates,” senior Kathryn Winterburn said. “But I am also excited for A10’s and to continue onto graduate school.”
“It is very strange knowing that this is my last meet before A10’s,” senior Adelyn Graf said. “It’s crazy to think that the season is almost over, let alone my swimming career.”
With A10’s on Feb. 17, Haberman is not only excited to take on her final challenge as a swimmer for St. Bonaventure, but she is also excited for the experience her freshmen teammates are about to have.
“The freshmen do not know what to expect, but the atmosphere at A10s is exhilarating,” Haberman said. “I know that they have all put in the hard work in order to succeed at this meet. Each of the freshmen have a different skill set, and I am excited to see how they use their strengths to conquer their first A10’s.”
Other seniors on the team include Taylor Anderson, Elizabeth Malone, and Alexa Scanlan
The women’s swimming and diving team has won three total meets with the last two coming on the road.
A10’s will go from Feb. 17-20 and will take place at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
