PHOTO COURTESY OF GOBONNIES
BY ANDREW HALE, MANAGING EDITOR
The St. Bonaventure men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams host their final home meet Saturday against Little Three rival Canisius.
Saturday’s Senior Day clash against the Golden Griffins will be the two team’s second meeting of the season. In their last meeting, the Bonnies defeated Canisius 150-71.
After the Bonnies’ lopsided victory in their first meet against Canisius, sophomore diver Ben O’Neill looks to replicate his first performance on Saturday.
“In our rematch against Canisius, I expect myself to have personal bests on both 1-meter and 3-meter,” said O’Neill. “I expect this because I feel the best I have felt, and setting expectations high is something I’m used to.”
The December meeting against Canisius was also the Bonnies’ last meet. Saturday will mark the end of the Bonnies’ hiatus as it’ll also be the first time the Bonnies have hosted a home meet since Oct. 28.
Bonaventure will also be honoring its senior swimmers and divers on Saturday. The seniors have played a big role in the underclassmen’s progression according to O’Neill.
“The seniors have been amazing role models to the younger class, they have been lifetime friends, brothers and sisters to me,” said O’Neill. “It hurts that it’ll be our last meet at home together but I’m happy for the places they will go after their career at SBU.”
While the majority of the team hasn’t competed since December, sophomore divers O’Neill, Ben Giera, Sanayia Joefield and senior diver Kylie McKee all participated in the Buffalo Diving Invitational last weekend.
On the men’s side, O’Neill scored a season-high 286.35 in the 1-meter dive at the invitational. O’Neill scored a 212.90 in the preliminary round of the 3-meter dive before the final round was canceled due to inclement weather.
“Coming off our training trip I was at an all-time high,” said O’Neill. “I felt great going into the UB invite and performed very well on 1-meter. On 3-meter the next day, we were cut short due to weather so I can’t say much about that. Overall, it was a very positive meet and showed I’m ready for what comes next.”
Giera also had a 1-meter dive season-high with a score of 295.75. In the 3-meter dive, Giera finished with a score of 232.7.
“I think that I have overcome injury well this year,” said Giera. “I tore my patellar tendon last summer, so it has been a tough time getting back into diving. I keep my head up high and don’t let it discourage me.”
On the women’s side, Joefield finished with a score of 149.15 in the 1-meter dive while McKee finished with a 166.35.
In the 3-meter dive, McKee finished with a score of 183.90. Joefield did not participate as she was rehabbing a shoulder injury which kept her sidelined for over a year.
“After participating in the UB invite I would evaluate my performance as amazing due to the challenges I’ve faced with my previous surgery on my shoulder,” said Joefield. “It has been an entire year since I have competed, so I am not upset with my performance. My main focus was to get back into the feel of competing again and although I had some second thoughts, my coach and teammates were there to reassure me that I was ready and had been doing excellent in practice and to remember to have fun.”
McKee, a senior, has been an important role model to the younger swimmers according to Joefield.
“The seniors have been amazing throughout my recovery process,” said Joefield. “I want to say a special thank you to Kylie as she pushed me to keep going when physical therapy got challenging. She reminded me that I am stronger than I think and to continue trusting the process. I am so excited to be part of celebrating all of the seniors as they were great leaders to the team this season.”
After Saturday, the Bonnies only have two meets remaining before the Atlantic 10 Championships in February.
While the season is quickly coming to an end, O’Neill believes the performance during the season will prepare the team for A-10s.
“We have had a very rocky road,” said O’Neill. “Lots of high points and lots of low points. We struggle to balance in between that, but I believe we’re being pushed in the perfect direction for success when it comes to A-10s in February.”
Saturday’s meet against Canisius begins with diving at 10 a.m. and swimming starting at 1 p.m. in the Reilly Center.
halea22@bonaventure.edu
