The Bucknell men’s swimming and diving team returns to action this weekend and is looking to build upon a fourth-place finish at the 2025 Patriot League Championships. The Bison lose several key swimmers from last year, but have a strong group of 16 returners with their names in the record books that account for 36 individual top-10 marks. As a team, The Bison set seven relay times in the top-10.
Bucknell graduated a stellar senior class last May that included four-time All-Patriot League performers Andy Dorsel and Chris Kopac who combined for 28 top-10 marks in the program. The class also included Justin DiSanto, Will Hedges, Nick Shopis and Ed Park. Altogether, the class accounted for 20 different individual top-10 times, three school records, and had a hand in 24 different top-10 relay times. Head coach Dan Schinnerer, now entering his 20th season, said the team has big shoes to fill regarding leadership.
“It’s a big class to lose and you can just look at the record books and the numbers,” said head coach Dan Schinnerer. “Even beyond the numbers, it was a great group of leaders, and even guys who don’t have their names all over the record books were great leaders of the team.”
Despite the loss of six top performers from last season, the Bison return with 10 seniors this season with plenty of experience. The class includes captains Alex Crossing and Shane Wynne, Braden Beagle, William Shoemaker, Matt Raudabaugh, Sam Sweetser, Nikita Bityutskiy, and Chase Ferguson.
Also in the class are Jackson Vinarub and Jack Krug, two of the top divers in program history.
“The leadership and experience of the senior class will be a big strength for us this season,” said Schinnerer. “There’s a lot of talent among the underclassmen, and that’s not to take away from the talent of the upperclassmen. When you’re trying to translate the potential of younger guys, a key piece of that is leadership and guidance from the older guys. Having a big and talented senior class makes that possible for us.”
Wynne has his name on 10 different top-10 marks for the Bison throughout his career. Individually, the Cheshire, Connecticut native is fourth in the 200 butterfly, eighth in the 100 butterfly, sixth in the 100 backstroke and ninth in the 200 IM. Wynne has also been a part of six different top-10 marks in relays, including the 800 freestyle relay record set in 2024.
“Shane has found a way to contribute the last two years through some injuries and he is excited to have a healthy year,” said Schinnerer. “He’s putting together some of the pieces and potential of having a healthy a smoother sail through the season.”
Shoemaker, another senior with plenty of experience, is set for a strong year. A distance swimmer, he ranks fourth in the 1,000 freestyle and fifth in the 1,650 freestyle.
“Will is a great story of a guy who came in a little further down on the depth chart when he arrived at Bucknell, but has just developed throughout his time with us,” said Schinnerer. “It’s a testament to work ethic and he just grinds. He never let where he was at that moment on the depth chart when he arrived affect where he could get to.”
Crossing, another distance swimmer, also has his name in the records in three different events. The Victor, New York native has top-10 marks in the 500, 1,000, and 1,650 freestyle.
“He’s consistent performer and just another guy who is a great leader,” said Schinnerer. “He sets a great example and leads by example for the others on the team.”
Vinarub and Krug headline the divers on the squad and both have made top-10 marks in the one-meter and three-meter diving. Krug currently ranks second in the three-meter and third in the one-meter. Vinarub ranks second in the one-meter and third in the three-meter.
“Jack and Jackson have been great and we’re super excited to have one more year with them,” said Schinnerer. “They came in as freshmen and they were kind of the guys right away because we didn’t have a lot of depth. They’ve developed well and been impactful, and they’ve just done an excellent job on the boards.
Beagle and Raudabaugh each have a mark among top-10 times. Raudabaugh ranks sixth in the 100 breaststroke and Beagle is third in the 200 backstroke.
The junior class for the Bison is another solid class with seven members and plenty of experience. Between the seven members, they account for 14 individual top-10 marks and contributed to 12 different relay times for the Bison.
“This a class that is certainly more on the sprint side of things,” said Schinnerer. “It wasn’t necessarily by design but it came by design as the older guys covered the long- and middle-distance events. With that comes impact on relays and we will look to the junior class for that in many ways. I think they’ll play a key role across a number of spots on relays.”
Colin Smith, Finn Russell, Riley Twiss and Drew Greene have been some of the team’s top performers, and have combined for 11 individual top-10 marks through their first two years at Bucknell.
Smith ranks 10th in the 50 freestyle and eighth in the 100 freestyle, both set at last year’s PL Championships. He has also played a role in four top-10 marks in relays. Russell has nine different marks in the top-10. The Caldwell, New Jersey native is third in the 50 freestyle, this in the 100 butterfly and was a part of top-10 times among relays.
“Colin had a great season last year,” said Schinnerer. “He took everything he learned in his freshman year and translated it into his sophomore season. Finn is another guy who performed right from the start and has shown to be a big meet swimmer at championships and he was great for us last year.”
Twiss has been a very versatile swimmer through his first two years with a top-10 mark in six different individual events and one relay. Twiss has top-10 times in the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 1,000 freestyle, 1,650 freestyle, 200 butterfly and the 400 IM.
“Riley is a really versatile swimmer who can compete in a variety of events,” said Schinnerer. “From the 200 up to a 1,650 freestyle, a good butterfly and IM, he’s somebody that we’re going to rely on in a number of spots.”
Greene and James Lombardi were also solid contributors last season. Greene made his mark as a member of four different top-10 relay teams in three different events and a top mark in the 100 freestyle. Lombardi competes in the breaststroke and has the second-best time in the 100 breaststroke set at least year’s PL Championships. He also has a top time in the 200 breaststroke.
“James really got things rolling last year in the breaststroke,” said Schinnerer. “We’d like for him to continue that progression and if he does, he’s knocking on the doors of some school records. Drew is a great relay swimmer and somebody that really loves to step up in those situations. With some of the seniors graduating, he’s going to have more opportunities and I think he’s going to take advantage of them.”
Also in the class is diver Connor Thurston, who won Diver of the Meet on day two of the ECAC Championships. The Doylestown, Pennsylvania native has top-10 marks in both the one- and three-meter dives. He ranks sixth in the three-meter and 10th in the one-meter. Caleb Kubiak is another versatile swimmer in the class who competes in the IM, butterfly, backstroke and freestyle.
Damian Czartoryjski, Dante Buonadonna and Finn Franks are looking to build on strong debut seasons last year. The sophomore trio has combined for nine top-10 marks. Caleb Hagadorn, William Harpster and Avery Kuhn round out the class with six members.
Franks had a great freshman year, swimming for three top-10 times in individual events. He ranks fourth in the 200 freestyle, sixth in the 500 freestyle and 10th in the 1,650 freestyle.
“Finn had a great year last season,” said Schinnerer. “He came in a last year and worked really had. As a freshman, he was still learning the college and the meet process. He learned and got better and better and had a great championship stretch last year.”
Buonadonna set top-10 times in the 100 freestyle and the 200 IM last season. He also had a hand in Bucknell’s second-fastest 400 freestyle relay set at the PL Championships. Czartoryjski has top-10 times in the 200 freestyle and the 100 butterfly as well as the second-fastest time in the 800 freestyle relay.
“Dante loves to race and we saw that right from day one,” said Schinnerer. “He’s a really versatile guy that can go a lot of different places. He likes to just get out there and compete, so we gave him the opportunities and he took advantage of them.
There are six members of the freshmen class on the men’s side this season. Drew Davis, Jackson Hagler, Evan Hepburn, Jason Kellerman, Finn Lukens and CJ Meier make up the class.
“I think this is a talented freshmen class,” said Schinnerer. “Not necessarily that these guys are going to walk into the team and fill big shoes, but there is really good talent. On paper, some of these guys are walking in not too far off the times some of our seniors from last year put up.”
Schinnerer said the team is in a good spot after weeks of training leading up to the season. The Bison are ready to hit the road for its first weekend of action, starting at Holy Cross before heading to Boston University for their first two dual meets.
“The preseason has gone very well,” said Schinnerer. “We’ve had a great attitude and understanding of what we need to do and what the challenges will be season.”
The Bison finished in fourth place at the Patriot League Championships and the ECAC Championships last season. Army won the Patriot League last year, edging Navy for the championship. Loyola took third place just ahead of the Bison. Boston, Lehigh Lafayette, Holy Cross, American and Colgate followed in order.
Returning Men on All-Time Top-10 Performers Lists
Braden Beagle, Sr.
- 3rd, 200 Back (1:47.29)
Dante Buonadonna, So.
- 9th, 100 Free (44.90)
- 8th, 200 IM (1:48.21)
- 2nd, 400 Free Relay (2:56.44)
Alex Crossing, Sr.
- 5th, 500 Free (4:27.47)
- 6th, 1,000 Free (9:26.36)
- 7th, 1,650 Free (15:38.82)
Damian Czartoryjski, So.
- 10th, 200 Free (1:38.41)
- 5th, 100 Fly (48.76)
Finn Franks, So.
- 4th, 200 Free (1:38.05)
- 6th, 500 Free (4:27.68)
- 10th, 1,650 Free (15:45.90)
Drew Greene, Jr.
- 7th, 100 Free (44.78)
- 7th, 200 Medley Relay (1:29.93)
- 7th, 200 Free Relay (1:21.09)
- 9th, 200 Free Relay (1:21.24)
- 8th, 400 Free Relay (2:59.69)
Jack Krug, Sr.
- 3rd, One-Meter Diving (299.90)
- 2nd, Three-Meter Diving (312.80)
James Lombardi, Jr.
- 2nd, 100 Breast (54.42)
- 6th, 200 Breast (1:59.85)
Matt Raudabaugh, Sr.
- 6th, 100 Breast (54.85)
Finn Russell, Jr.
- 3rd, 50 Free (20.14)
- 3rd, 100 Fly (47.97)
- 2nd, 200 Medley Relay (1:27.71)
- 4th, 200 Medley Relay (1:27.86)
- 4th, 400 Medley Relay (3:14.51)
- 2nd, 200 Free Relay (1:19.76)
- 3rd 200 Free Relay (1:19.80)
- 7th, 200 Free Relay (1:21.09)
- 9th, 200 Free Relay (1:21.24)
William Shoemaker, Sr.
- 4th, 1,000 Free (9:23.50)
- 5th, 1,650 Free (15:30.58)
Collin Smith, Jr.
- 10th, 50 Free (20.37)
- 8th, 100 Free (44.83)
- 3rd, 200 Free Relay (1:19.80)
- 7th, 200 Free Relay (1:21.09)
- 10th, 200 Free Relay (1:21.45)
- 2nd, 400 Free Relay (2:56.44)
Connor Thurston, Jr.
- 10th, One-Meter Dive (270.30)
Riley Twiss, Jr.
- 8th, 200 Free (1:38.33)
- 4th, 500 Free (4:27.10)
- 9th, 1,000 Free (9:29.68)
- 6th, 1,650 Free (15:35.24)
- 7th, 200 Fly (1:48.77)
- 9th, 400 IM (3:54.87)
- 2nd, 800 Free Relay (6:30.18)
Jackson Vinarub, Sr.
- 2nd, One-Meter Dive (307.95)
- 3rd, Three-Meter Dive (307.80)
Shane Wynne, Sr.
- 6th, 100 Back (49.34)
- 8th, 100 Fly (58.97)
- 4th, 200 Fly (1:47.82)
- 9th, 200 IM (1:48.27)
- 4th, 200 Medley Relay (1:27.86)
- 4th, 400 Medley Relay (3:14.51)
- 7th, 400 Free Relay (2:59.62)
- 1st, 800 Free Relay (6:30.17)
- 4th, 800 Free Relay (6:31.17)
- 10th, 800 Free Relay (6:37.40)