Women’s swimming and diving opens campaign at WNY Invite

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The St. Bonaventure women's swimming and diving team will open its 2011-2012 season this Saturday at the WNY Invitational.

The meet will kick off with swimming and diving at 10 a.m., and following a brief intermission will resume at 3 p.m. 

The Bonnies will compete against the University at Buffalo, Canisius College, Niagara University and Binghamton University.

During the 2010-11 season in head-to-head matchups, St. Bonaventure picked up wins over rivals Canisius, 163-77, and Niagara, 151.5-137.5.

Last year, then-freshman Jeannette Dietrich finished in second place in the 50-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle with times of 25.0 and 1:57.17, respectively. Lanae Petty came in third for the 50-yard freestyle and third in the 100-yard butterfly touching in at 1:00.17.

The women will return to the pool after finishing tied for fourth at the Atlantic 10 Championships last year.

The Bonnies welcome nine new members to the team this year. Returning are seniors Lanae Petty and Alycia Gossett, junior Erica Pascarella and sophomores McKenzie Courtney, Chrysta Currier, Jeanette Dietrich, Paige Gutowski and Whitney Dougherty.

The Bonnies finished the final week of last season ranked No. 9 in the nation in Improvement Ranking in the CollegeSwimming.com polls following the A-10 Championships.

Following the WNY invite the Bonnies will be back in the pool for their home opener on Oct. 22 against Pittsburgh at 11 a.m.