University at Buffalo: Reporter

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ROYALS WIN THIRD MID-CONTINENT SWIMMING TITLE
The University at Buffalo's women's swimming and diving squad, buoyed by three-time Mid-Continent Conference Swimmer of the Year Sue Bohnel, captured their third straight Mid-Con crown at the Alumni Arena Natatorium Saturday night.

The Royals outdistanced second place Western Illinois by a score of 985-908. Valparaiso (559), Central Connecticut State (348) Northeastern Illinois (223) and Youngs-town State (209) finished behind the leaders.

Bohnel captured her third straight Mid-Con Swimmer of the Year award Saturday as she won the 100 freestyle and 200 breast. She also was part of the Royals' winning 400 free relay squad, along with Laura Herrick, Martie Duffett and Carrie Grant.

Alexandra Barrera took the 1650 freestyle. Andrea Skillman, who won the 1- and 3-meter diving competitions on Thursday and Friday, earned Diver of the Year honors for the second consecutive year. Royals coach Dorsi Raynolds was named conference Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year.

The Royals won seven of the eight events Friday evening. Kim Theetge set a school record, winning the 100 breaststroke and breaking the old mark set in 1993. Bohnel took first in the 200 freestyle while Duffett captured the 400 Individual Medley. Bohnel and Duffett, along with Roxanne Kuba and Grant, also carried the Royals' 800 free relay squad to victory.

Also taking top honors for the Royals was Skillman, who captured the one-meter diving championship, and Lieselle Trinidad, who won the 100 butterfly. UB also took the 200 medley relay.

Grant was a double winner to take the Royals into the lead on Thursday night, winning the 200 Individual Medley, with Megan Connolly second. Grant also was part of the Royals' winning 400 medley relay squad, along with Theetge, Trinidad and Bohnel.

The Royals also finished 1-2 in the 500 freestyle and 3-meter diving competitions. Duffett took first in the 500 free, with Barrera finishing second. Skillman won the 3-meter event; Karen Phipps was second.

Nine Royals (Barrera, Bohnel, Duffett, Grant, Herrick, Kuba, Skillman, Theetge and Trinidad) earned First Team All-Mid-Con honors by finishing first in their respective events. Connolly and Phipps registered second team honors. The Royals now hope to make it two post-season championships as they head for Sewell, N.J., and this weekend's ECAC Championships.



BULLS PLACE SECOND IN MEN'S SWIM CHAMPIONSHIP
The Bulls placed second to Western Illinois in the men's Mid-Continent Championships at the Alumni Arena Natatorium. UB scored 834 points to the Leathernecks' 878.50. Central Connecticut (626.50), Valparaiso (393) and Northeastern Illinois (209) rounded out the field.

Korry Miller established a new school record for the Bulls as he won the 200 backstroke and was named the conference's Swimmer of the Year Saturday night. Other Bulls winners Saturday included Mark Horgan in the 1650 free, Dan Hickey in the 100 free and the 800 free relay team of Hickey, Josh Pieczonka, Horgan and Miller.

Hickey earned the league's Newcomer of the Year Award. Hickey and Miller were also double winners for the Bulls on Friday. Hickey took the 200 free and combined with Horgan, Pat Quinlan, and Miller to win the 800 free relay. Miller captured the 100 backstroke. Kevin Jessop won the 400 Individual Medley for UB.

On Thursday UB's squad depth helped the Bulls to an early lead over Western Illinois in the meet with Horgan, the team's lone winner, taking the 500 freestyle, Hickey finishing second and Kevin Kelly third. UB also placed second in the 200 free relay and 400 medley relay events behind Western Illinois.

The Bulls placed six swimmers on the league's First Team All-Conference squad-Horgan, Hickey, Jessop, Miller, Pieczonka and Quinlan. UB also placed four members on the second team: Carl Carlson, Jose Moncion, John Nilles and Kelly. The season isn't over yet for the Bulls-they make their annual appearance in the ECAC Championships in Sewell, N.J., this weekend.



BULLS NAIL DOWN SECOND PLACE IN BASKETBALL RACE
The Bulls will head to the Quad Cities seeded second in next week's Mid-Continent Conference Tournament following a late rally to defeat Central Connecticut State 75-73 in New Britain Saturday. The win finishes the Bulls' regular season at 16-10 overall and 11-5 in league play. UB will face Chicago State in the first round of the Mid-Con Tourney March 2.

Rasaun Young's driving layup off the glass with 4.3 seconds remaining gave the Bulls the win, their fourth straight. Young led the Bulls with 22 points, including 19 in the second half, as the Bulls rallied from an eight-point deficit with 8:34 to go. Young's three-pointer with 39.3 seconds left gave the Bulls their first lead of the afternoon and Mike Martinho's two free throws 15 seconds later gave UB a 73-70 edge. The Blue Devils tied the contest at 73 with 12.1 seconds left as Dwhawn Edwards hit a three-pointer off the glass before Young made his game-winning shot.

Martinho and Matt Clemens added 17 and 13 points respectively for the Bulls as UB claimed their 350th win in the program's history. Leonard Tangishaka pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds in the game.

Earlier in the week the Bulls gave their seniors a big sendoff in the home finale with an 80-47 win over visiting Chicago State. Four Bulls scored in double figures, led by Martinho with 14 points, as all 12 players saw quality minutes in the rout. Young and Robert Harris added 12 apiece, with Scott McMillin scoring 11. Tangishaka pulled down 10 rebounds as UB held the Cougars to just 29.7 percent shooting.



ROYALS TAKE PAIR, AWAIT MID-CON TOURNEY AT ALUMNI
The Royals reached the 20-win plateau for the fourth straight year with their weekend victories at Central Connecticut State and Coppin State. The Royals are now 21-5 overall and 12-4 in Mid-Continent Conference play. UB will be the third seed when tournament play begins at Alumni Arena on March 6.

UB picked up win No. 20 and finished their league schedule with a 70-56 win over the Blue Devils on Friday night. Brenna Doty and Alicia Kollmorgen led a balanced Royals attack with 11 points each; Kim Coon added 10. Lisette Prinzing tied her season-high with eight rebounds to lead UB on the boards as the Royals out-rebounded their hosts 45-32.

Sunday in Baltimore against Coppin State, the Royals raced out to a 41-18 halftime lead and cruised to an easy 85-47 win over the Eagles. Charissa Gardner led five Royals in double figures with 21 points, as Doty added 15. LaToya Crumpton scored 12 points and blocked four shots, while Prinzing again pulled down eight boards.



WRESTLING MOVES UNBEATEN STREAK TO NINE DUALS
Coach Jim Beichner's wrestlers finished their regular season with a pair of road wins at Duquesne and Ohio University over the weekend. UB is now 12-2-2 as they head into the East Coast Wrestling Association meet March 8 and 9.

The Bulls defeated Duquesne 27-14 as Arturo Mazzeo took the 158-pound bout with his pin of Bill Curry at the 2:29 mark. Jeromy McVige pulled out a 5-4 overtime win over Pete DeCarli in the 134-pound match, while Jason Wartinger at 126 and Eric Gross at 167 also were victorious for the Bulls.

UB defeated Mid-American Conference member Ohio University 25-14 in Athens Sunday. Wartinger and McVige earned overtime wins in the 126- and 134-pound matches. John Stutzman improved to 34-2 this season with his win at 150 over Steve Kaiser.



INDOOR TRACK & FIELD
The Royals finished third and the Bulls fourth at last weekend's Mid-Con Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships in Sterling, Ill. The Royals scored 113 points, placing behind team champion Missouri-Kansas City (137) and second-place Youngstown State (114.5). The Bulls tallied 76.5 points to finish behind champion Youngstown State (201.5), UMKC (161) and Western Illinois (97.5).

Two Royals set meet records as Lisa Kragbe took the 400-meter dash in 58.08 and Shelly Hamilton established a new mark in the high jump with her winning leap of 5-8 3/4. Kragbe was also part of the Royals' winning 4 x 400 relay squad, along with Jamie Hirschman, Amy Tabone and Terry Scherne. Scherne was second in the long jump. Stacey Strothmann took first place in the 5,000 meters and third in the 3,000. Melissa Ryan grabbed first place for the Royals in the 55 hurdles. Ryan, Kragbe, Hamilton, Strothmann, Hirschman, Tabone and Scherne earned First Team All-Mid-Con honors.

Chris Keenan was UB's lone winner in the men's championships, taking the 5,000 meters. Neil Murray placed second in the pole vault and Steve Montone was third. Keenan earned first team All-Conference with Murray taking a spot on the second team. The Bulls' 4 x 400 relay squad of Matt Streng, Jelani Headley, Spencer Bell and Ryan Candia placed third. Patrick Nolan finished third in the mile run and Victor Archibald was third in the high jump.

The Royals are sending two competitors to this weekend's ECAC meet at Dartmouth; Hamilton will compete in the high jump and Scherne in the pentathlon.



WOMEN'S TENNIS
The Royals dropped a 6-3 decision to St. Bonaventure in Olean on Friday to begin their spring schedule. Danielle Rakowsky was the Royals' lone singles winner, taking the number five match 6-1, 7-5 over Rebecca Bettin. UB's No.1 doubles team of Stacey Gargan and Wemillie Arellano and third team of Amy Snyder and April Kiser also posted 8-4 wins. The Royals are off until they begin their Spring Break match schedule March 16 at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

UPCOMING HOME ATHLETIC EVENTS
Thursday, March 6
Mid-Continent Conference Women's
Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals Alumni Arena, 12:30, 2:30, 5, 7 p.m.
Friday, March 7
Mid-Continent Conference Women's
Basketball Tournament Semifinals Alumni Arena, 5 & 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 8
Mid-Continent Conference Women's
Basketball Tournament Finals Alumni Arena, 4 p.m.

­ Ted Wasko, Sports Information Office


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