MEAGHAN BUCKLEY ('00): A star sprinter for the Panther swimming and diving teams in the late 1990s, Meaghan Buckley placed in top nine at the New England Championships in eight individual events over a three-year span from 1998-00. She still owns six school records, three individual and three in relays, and can claim the title of the fastest swimmer in the first quarter-century of the program.
A native of Haverhill, Mass., Buckley made an impact as a freshman under coach Al Switzer, setting school records in the 400 yard medley and 400 yard freestyle relays. She established new marks in the 50, 100 and 200 yard freestyle the next season, breaking a 12-year-old standard in the 50, the sport’s fastest race. By the time she was done, Buckley owned Panther standards in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle, and put her name on the record-holding contingents in the 200, 400, and 800-yard freestyle relays, all marks that still stand today.
Buckley earned three All-New England honors three straight years, with her top performances a fifth place in the 50 free in 1998 and a fifth in the 100 free in 2000. She reached NCAA “B” List qualifying times in the 50 and 100 free as a sophomore and again in the 100 and 200 free as a junior. Buckley went unbeaten in the 100 free as a senior and won 25 of 27 freestyle races, and she led the Panthers to a 30-12 dual meet record in her four years.
