The Bowling Green State University swimming and diving team finished up competition on Saturday in the Miami Invite, placing fourth as a team behind Mid-American Conference rivals Miami and Ball State.
On Thursday, the Falcons returned to the pool for the first time in over three weeks, beginning the three-day event, their second invitational of the season.
The return to competition brought some personal bests for the BGSU swimmers.
Senior Taylor Harris had one of the best finishes of the Falcons with a time of 2:06.75 in the 200 intermediate medley and a 10th-place finish. This finish was good enough for a personal best in the event.
Harris was not the only swimmer to set a personal best. Morgan Sokol not only won her heat in the 500 freestyle but also set a lifetime best with a time of 5:03.9.
Fellow Falcon freshman Ashley Fryer swam a personal best in the 500 freestyle, as well.
Elayna Krupp also added a top-10 finish to the Falcon performance. Krupp placed 10th in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.69.
Diver Rayah Blood continued her strong start to the season with a second-place finish in the three-meter dive with a finals score of 272.1. Blood was one of four Falcon divers to earn points in the event.
“As a team we started a little flat this morning, but we preformed much better as the day went on,” BGSU coach Rickey Perkins said. “Our swimmers all looked strong and were very consistent. Diving had a good showing with four of them earning points.”
On Friday, the Falcons started competition how they finished Thursday. The Falcons added five top-five finishes.
The divers added two top-five finishes in the one meter dive thanks to a 250.25 from Grace Ellis which was good enough for fourth place.
Ellis was closely followed by fellow Falcon Elise Snyder who finished fifth with a score of 237.15.
The swimmers also performed well. Three Falcons earned points in the 400 intermediate medley led by Ava Vial with a seventh-place finish and a time of 4:30.21.
The Falcons then added another top 15 time and points in the 200 freestyle courtesy of Julianna Petrak’s time of 1:53.81.
Harris had another strong outing. Harris was the top finisher of the swimmers earning a fourth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke. Harris swam to a time of 1:03.47.
Emily McNicol, also coming off of a strong first day, swam to a top-five finish in the 100 backstroke with a time of 55.71.
“I am happy with the energy the team had today. We had more people making it to finals,” Perkins said. “We had more lifetime bests and season best times.
“The divers came in and did a great job for us again. Our momentum is growing.
On Saturday, Harris concluded the Miami Invite with another spectacular performance.
Harris continued her strong effort with another fourth-place finish in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:18.55.
BGSU then had two Falcons snag points in the 200 butterfly courtesy of Fabiana D’Ambrogio and Vial.
D’Ambrogio swam to a time of 2:05.53 and a seventh-place finish with fellow Falcon Vial swimming to a twelfth-place finish with a time of 2:08.2.
Teammate Gabby Vitela got a point in the first event of the day with a time of 17:59.56. Krupp also added points to the final Falcon total in the 100 Freestyle with a time of 52.25.
“We had a great last night,” Perkins said. “It was a solid team effort and there was great energy from the team. It was a strong finish to the weekend.”
With the end of the Miami Invite the Falcons concluded competition in the fall portion of their season.
The BGSU divers will return to competition on Jan. 13 for the Buffalo Diving Invite. The swimmers return home to the Cooper Pool on Jan. 14 to face Akron in a dual meet.
