NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Niagara swimming and diving teams begin the new year with back-to-back meets as they host the University at Buffalo on Friday at 1 p.m. and Boston College the following day at 11 p.m. at the Oxy Aquatic Center. 

The men’s and women’s teams last competed in the Zippy Invitational,  breaking a total of 11 records throughout competition.  The men finished sixth out of nine teams while the women placed 14^th out of 14 teams.   

The men's team had a solid effort from several Purple Eagles.  Freshman Shane Baxter who broke seven NU records, including the 200 yard IM (1:53.72) and the 100 yard backstroke (50.45) which earned him second place.  He also nabbed third place in the 200 yard backstroke with his record-breaking time of 1:51.62.  Teammate Corban Bothell broke the Niagara 1650 freestyle record with his sixth place finishing time of 16:21.09. 

The 400 yard medley team of Baxter, Alex Siuda , Brian Sawma, and Bothell clocked in at 3:31.30 which was good enough for 11th place and a new Niagara record.  Baxter, Siuda, Sawma and Nate Resila teamed up in the 200 yard medley relay to place ninth, breaking the previous NU record with their time of 1:35.79. 

Senior Ian O'Rourke placed second in the three-meter diving event with a score of 288.60, while finishing fourth in the one-meter diving event with a score of 256.05. 

For the women, Lindsey Jackson became the all-time leader in Niagara swim records for females and overall with eight after she swam the 200 yard butterfly in a record-breaking time of 2:10.24.  Junior Aubrey Kettrick broke the 500 yard freestyle NU record with her preliminary time of 5:09.17. 

Following Saturday's meet, Niagara will travel to cross-town rival Canisius a week later and finish the regular season at home against St. Bonaventure on Jan. 28, before co-hosting the Metro Atlantic Athletic Championships from Feb. 16-18.