BY LANDON WASHBURN, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The St. Bonaventure University women’s swimming and diving team started its 2022-23 campaign Thursday as it took on St. Francis (Pa).
Last year the Bonnies finished with a record of 4-1 in dual meets last season. They started this year with an entirely new coaching staff. This means they will have a new person leading the charge, Mike Smiechowski. He was named the head coach in July.
Coach Smiechowski had been the coach of the men’s and women’s swim and dive team at Alfred State for the past three seasons. He has won numerous coach of the year honors and led Alfred State to their first ever undefeated season in school history, going 7-0 in the 2021-22 season.
In his coaching career with Alfred State, he had a 26-11 dual-meet record. He has also led 32 athletes to individual AMCC championships and ten AMCC/E8 championships.
Joining the team this year are eight freshmen. Returning to the Bonnies this season are four seniors who look to provide experience and leadership. Among those seniors is Allison Lenda.
“My goals for this season are to improve my stroke technique, get the best times in my main events, support my teammates so they can reach their goals, and enjoy every moment of my senior season,” said Lenda.
Like her teammates, she is super excited for the A-10 Championships.
“A-10’s always has a crazy environment and crazy fast swimmers from every team in the conference – it’s really a meet that compares to no other,” she said.
This year the tournament is being held in Ohio, February 15-18.
The Bonnies look to start its season on the right track on Sept. 29 as they travel to Pennsylvania to take on St. Francis (Pa). Last season, the Bonnies took the victory over St. Francis (Pa), 120-102, on Sept. 25. They look to improve off last year’s finish of 8th in the Atlantic-10 Championships.
wasbulj22@bonaventure.edu
