For Immediate Release: October 13, 2007
Contact: Anthony G. Naglieri (sports@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-2956

BU swimming & diving opens season at WNY Invitational
Varanda wins pair of events to highlight 07-08 season opener

Final Results

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Binghamton men's and women's swimming and diving teams opened up its 2007-08 season at the Western New York Invitational, hosted by the University at Buffalo.

There was no team scoring in the meet that also included men's and women's squads from Canisius, Niagara, St. Bonaventure and Binghamton.

"We were really pleased with our initial performance," said second-year head coach Sean Clark. "We are definitely looking forward to having a real dual meet at the end of the month and bringing everyone along to show off our new skills. We'll train hard for the next two weeks and see where the dual meet season leads us."

Junior Brenno Varanda (St. Petersburg, Fla.) captured a pair of individual events to highlight the men's efforts. Varanda touched first in the 200 breast (2:08.29) and 400 IM (4:12.50), while claiming runner-up honors in the 500 free (4:50.09).

Junior Andrew Palumbo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) had a strong effort winning the 100 breast (59.75) and touching in third in the 200 breast (2:14.03).

Freshmen Jason Chen (Livingston, N.J.) and Kevin Kearney (Latham, N.Y.) both earned their first collegiate victories. Chen won the 200 IM (1:58.20) and had a second-place finish in the 100 fly (53.59) and third in the 200 back (1:58.33). Kearney won the 100 back (54.38) and took fourth in the 200 back (1:59.41).

Sophomore transfer Cole Courtemanche (Gardner, Mass.) came up big in his Binghamton debut with runner-up honors in the 1,000 free (10:06.20) and a fifth-place in the 500 (4:58.56).

On the women's side, BU's incoming freshman class paid immediate dividends. Freshmen Lyndsi Worthington (Leawood, Kan.), Nicole Sheridan (Garden City, N.Y.), Kelsey Anderson (Penfield, N.Y.) , and Danielle Gallo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) each delivered strong efforts in their Bearcat debuts.

Worthington chalked up third and sixth place performances in the 200 (2:11.41) and 100 (1:01.51) backstroke events.

Sheridan posted three top-eight performances, finishing fifth in the 400 IM (4:53.52), sixth in the 200 breast (2:35.25), and seventh in the 200 IM (2:19.52).

Anderson took eighth in the 1,000 free (11:01.20) while Gallo was fourth in the 100 breast (1:09.55) and seventh in the 200 breast (1:00.71).

Sophomores Allyce Brand (Highland Park, Ill.) and Brittany Detlef (Rochester, N.Y.) were equally as impressive. Brand took third in the 50 free (25.36), while Detlef was third in the 200 fly (2:14.10).

The Bearcat men and women host the first of eight home meets, when Boston University visits the Patricia A. Saunders Aquatic Center on Saturday, October 27.