STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Senior Day is always a special occasion for graduating student-athletes as their contributions to their teams are recognized.
 
But Senior Day for the Stony Brook swimming and diving team this Saturday will be extra special.
 
The 11 a.m. meet against New Hampshire will honor senior Lexie Bakke and graduate student Michal Liberman, marking the first Senior Day for the Seawolves since the swimming and diving program was revived in 2017 following a five-year hiatus.
 
"I am excited because it's our first one since we brought the program back," head coach Kerry Smith said. "The impact that Lexie and Michal have had in their time here has been invaluable to the team and to the future of our program."
 
A Portland, Maine, native, Bakke was one of the inaugural members to join the team when the program was reborn for her sophomore year.    
 
"In preparation for this day, I've been thinking about how much the team has grown in the past three years," Bakke said. "The team has carried the same positive energy and drive since my first day here. I'm so lucky to have been a part of this team for the past three years. I can't wait to see what the future holds for the program."
 
Bakke will graduate with a degree in biomedical engineering with a specialization in biomaterials and biomechanics. She has excelled in her engineering coursework at Stony Brook, having been accepted into the Tau Beta Pi and Alpha Eta Mu Beta honor societies. She also is president of the Women in Science and Engineering honors program.
 
Liberman arrived at Stony Brook this past fall after being granted a fifth year of eligibility following an ACL tear early in her senior year at Eastern Michigan. 
 
"I kept going and fighting after my ACL tear because I knew that my journey was not done and that I didn't reach my goals," Liberman said. "Being able to stand at Senior Day after receiving the second chance to race, I know I'm on my way to winning my own battle."
 
Despite her brief time as a Seawolf, the Rosh Haayin, Israel, native has made an immediate impact on the program. Back in November, she broke the program's 100-yard butterfly record — the first Stony Brook record to fall since the team was revived. 
 
Liberman currently is pursuing her MBA in marketing. She looks to graduate next December. She also is a member of Hillel and the professional MBA club.
 
Saturday's Senior Day meet will begin at 11 a.m. at University Pool, with a brief ceremony honoring the duo 10 minutes beforehand. A live stream of the event will be available at America East TV.