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Salem University Athletics

OFFICIAL ATHLETICS SITE OF SALEM ATHLETICS
Swimmings seniors pose for a picture with senior day gifts.

Men's Swimming Jesse Blanchard

Competitive swimming returns to Salem University Pool

Tigers celebrate seniors and honor memory of Keith Bullion

SALEM, W. Va. (Oct. 22, 2017) – After more than a decade removed from the last home meet, competitive swimming returned to Salem University on Sunday with the Tigers men's and women's swimming team hosting the Salem University Tri Meet.

Salem revived its once proud swimming program last season, with the year serving as something of a dress rehearsal for Sunday. For a day, the old banners hanging in the Salem University Pool were given new life as Aquatics Director and Men's Water Polo Head Coach Robert Bullion presented a scholarship to softball's Tori Butler in memory of his father, Dr. Keith Bullion, the university's former water polo and swimming head coach and athletic director who also served as a biology and chemistry professor and head of the biology department.

During the elder Bullion's tenure, the aquatics program thrived, with the men's water polo team winning the Eastern Division II Championships, being named the Southern Division Coach of the Year. With him at the helm of the men's swim team, the Tigers won West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships in 2003 and 2004, earning Coach of the Year in that sport.

"I'm sure he'd definitely be happy with the direction aquatics is going," Robert Bullion said. "He cared about this place a lot, getting involved with all sorts of things. My dad had his hand in almost everything."

Bullion's legacy with Salem University is still fresh and growing. Butler, the first recipient of the Keith Bullion Memorial Scholarship, was one of his original biology students here at Salem.

"Tori was one of Dr. Bullion's original students and a teaching assistant, she's a hard worker in the classroom with a very high GPA, so it just made sense," Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach Steve Potts said. "To have one of his students at the first home swim meet since he was the head coach of the swimming team, giving out his scholarship, is just a fitting tribute."

The swimming program is in the early stages of rebuilding towards its former glory. The bulk of the men's team is comprised of Robert Bullion's water polo team, having competed in two matches in New York before making the long drive back to compete in the meet. Three of which comprised the four person senior class celebrated during Sunday's senior day, including Marton Dudok, Djordje Stavrevski, Chad Doerrman and, from the women's team, Alyssa Discepola.



The men, facing Notre Dame College head-to-head, had 115 points to Notre Dame's 136. The women, competing against Notre Dame College and Cal University, finished with a score of 60, falling to third.

Competing against Notre Dame College, Robert Juhas won the men's 200-yeard Freestyle with a time of 1:55.92, with Petar Leontijevic (2:06.13) and Uros Jevtic (2:15.58) placing third and fourth. Mateo Kozomara finished first in the men's 100-yeard back stroke with a time of 1:00.90.

Steve DeNeergaard and Gabrial Craig finished first and second in the men's 200-yard breast stroke with times of 2:34.34 and 2:35.45, respectively. Craig also finished first in the men's 200-yeard IM. Martin Dudok, Milos Popovic, Djordje Stavrevski and Juhas finished first in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:30.38.

In the women's individual events, Negar Tehranian-Torghabah finished second in the women's 200-yeard IM and Cerise Dingiswayo contributed a pair of third place finishes in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard fly.

For a complete list of results, click here.

"I was very excited to see the stands full today. Everything is starting to come together for the athletic department," Swimming Head Coach Rick Johnson said.

The next meet—and final competition of 2017--will be in the ECAC Championships from Dec. 1-3 in East Meadow, N.Y. The swim team will resume competition on Jan. 19 against West Virginia Wesleyan College.

The Keith Bullion Memorial Scholarship will be awarded during the first scholarship meeting of each academic year. To be eligible in the future, students must be a Junior and majoring in Biology with a cumulative 3.5 GPA. Recipients will receive $250 per academic year, not to exceed $500. Recipients will be selected by designated members of the Scholarship Committee and Robert Bullion.

Donations to the scholarship fund are accepted via check to the school, care of Stephanie Roberts, with Keith Bullion Memorial Scholarship indicated on the check. 
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Players Mentioned

Milos Popovic

Milos Popovic

Sophomore
Petar Leontijevic

Petar Leontijevic

6' 0"
Freshman
Mateo Kozomara

Mateo Kozomara

6' 3"
Junior
Chad Doerrman

Chad Doerrman

6' 0"
Senior
Alyssa Discepola

Alyssa Discepola

Senior

Players Mentioned

Milos Popovic

Milos Popovic

Sophomore
Petar Leontijevic

Petar Leontijevic

6' 0"
Freshman
Mateo Kozomara

Mateo Kozomara

6' 3"
Junior
Chad Doerrman

Chad Doerrman

6' 0"
Senior
Alyssa Discepola

Alyssa Discepola

Senior

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