SCOTT DEPOT – The Buckhannon-Upshur swim teams opened their 2021-22 season last Saturday in the Autumn Classic at the Tri-County YMCA in Scott Depot.

The Lady Bucs took first place in the seven-team event with 348 points.

In winning the event, the Lady Bucs took first place in eight events (six individual and two relays).

Cadence Vincent and Cameron Zuliani each won two individual events for the Lady Bucs.

Vincent won the 100-yard butterfly (59.21) and the 100-yard backstroke (59.11) while Zuliani claimed first in the 100-yard freestyle (58.30) and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:14.15).

Picking up the other first places for the Lady Bucs in individual events were Alayna Whitehair winning the 200-yard IM (2:24.55) and Riley Vincent taking the 50-yard freestyle (28.25).

The two Lady Bucs relay event winners were the 200-yard medley relay team of Riley Vincent, Whitehair, Zuliani and Cadence Vincent (1:56.87) and the 200-yard freestyle unit of Zuliani, Riley Vincent, Whitehair and Cadence Vincent (1:45.51).

Cabell Midland was second with 318 points while Parkersburg was third with 244 points.

The Bucs finished fourth amongst six teams with 209 points winning three individual events.

Earning the wins for the Bucs were Preston Bennett in the 100-yard freestyle (50.20) and the 100-yard backstroke (57.61) and Carter Zuliani in the 50-yard freestyle (23.48).

Parkersburg won the boys’ side with 509 points while Huntington was second with 340 and Cabell Midland was third with 316.

The event was split into two sessions for safety concerns as the meet was too big for just one session.

“I was pleased with the first meet,” said first-year head coach Michael Roessing. “You never really know what to expect from the first one, but I was happy with where we are at. I was disappointed they had to split the meet into sessions. We missed out on some really good competition for both boys and girls teams.  Individually we are where I thought we should be. I guess looking at the day, the surprising swims for me were turned in by two freshmen.”

“Carter Zuliani’s time in the 50 was well past where I thought he would be at this point and Riley Vincent also had times in her races that were above expectations,” Roessing added. “If they keep pushing, they could definitely find themselves at the state meet come February. My top state swimmers from last year put out times I thought they should, so they are on track for another good year: Cameron Zuliani, Alayna Whitehair, Cadence Vincent and Preston Bennett. All in all, a good first meet. I have a lot of new swimmers who are still working on trying to find their place in the water.”

Both teams will compete again this Saturday in the Mohawk Invitational as the Mylan Aquatic Center.

For complete results of the meet, please click here.