By Maggie Tifft, Contributor
On Jan. 27, the Canisius swimming and diving teams competed in their last meet before heading to the MAAC championships but couldn’t get past the St. Bonaventure Bonnies.
The men’s team lost 189–105 but saw impressive results from Luke Critchlow, Marin de Villard, Ben Yant, Toby Mayfield and Alexander Hiltbrand. The women’s team lost 187–96, getting top-of-the-podium results from Cassandra Ercoli, Ashley Allaire, Megan Campbell and Mia McDonnell.
De Villard, Ercoli, Critchlow and McDonnell are all freshmen who scored excellent times and top finishes. De Villard on the men’s side had a strong presence the entire season, and the same goes for freshmen Evie Leighton on the women’s team.
With MAACs just around the corner for the Golden Griffins, both teams are in preparation for the biggest meet of their seasons. The MAAC championships lasts four days, and individuals race more than one weekend’s worth of races.
“It’s really exciting and fun to go compete in the MAACs. Everyone just gives it their all, and the atmosphere is unmatched from other meets,” says junior captain Nick Kishbaugh. Kishbaugh has swam with the Griffs for the last two seasons, so, to him, this first championship as captain is monumental.
Senior Chloe Youvine spoke for the girls team, saying, “I love this team and am so excited for what we’re going to do at MAACs. The competition is going to be very tough, but we have such a supportive team.” This is Youvine’s fourth and final year as well, so the chance to compete one last time is one she says she won’t take for granted.
The Griffins look to finish one more week of practices, and then they’re off to Geneva, Ohio to face their fellow MAAC opponents. Competition begins Wednesday, Feb. 14 and ends Saturday, Feb. 17.