It was a day of mixed emotions for the swimming team when it took to the water Saturday. Looking for its first win of the season against long-time rival UNC-Wilmington, the women's team came up with a big 142.5-100.5 victory. Things did not go so well for the men, however, as the Seahawks handily defeated them by a score of 150-91. The split improved the women's team record to 1-2, but dropped the men to 0-3. The competition was the first dual meet of the season for UNCW.
"UNCW is a very competitive team for Duke," sophomore Lauren Cornet said. "Last year, both the men's and women's scores were very close. This year, we wanted to prove again to Wilmington that Duke can come out on top."
The women won an amazing 10 of 13 events on the way to routing the Seahawks. Cornet and fellow sophomore Amy Halligan led the Blue Devils through the meet, each posting two individual wins and taking part in the first-place 400-yard medley relay. Halligan took first in the 200-yard IM before leading teammates Kate Lambertson (2:11.68) and Lauren Afflixio (2:12.86) to a one-two-three finish in the 200-yard butterfly with her time of 2:08.94.
"We knew that the meet was going to be close," Halligan said. "We had a quick team meeting during the first break that got us fired up and ready to go. The next event was the 200-yard butterfly, and we just came out really fast. It was great to get first, second, and third in that, and after that, we just knew that the girls were going to win."
Cornet once again dominated the 200-yard breaststroke, cruising into first place with a time of 2:20.59. She also won the 50-yard freestyle, touching in at 24.68 to claim victory in the fastest event in swimming. Lauren Hancock also posted two wins for the Blue Devils, continuing to display her strength in distance swimming. Hancock won the 1,000-yard freestyle for Duke with her time of 10:25.52, and the 500-yard freestyle in 5:07.25.
"I was feeling really strong in practice this week," Hancock said. "I was more confident as well. It was going to be a close meet with a lot of intensity, so I just raced my best to try to give the team a boost."
Senior Captain Chris Fleizach once again led the men's team in its quest for its first win of the season. Fleizach captured the win in the 200-yard butterfly with his time of 1:56.85, placed second in the 200-yard backstroke (1:55.46), and swam the backstroke leg of the winning 400-yard medley relay.
"UNC-W is always a close meet for us," Fleizach said. "We really surprised them last year, but this year they scheduled us as their first meet so we wouldn't know what they had. Their freshman class turned out to be rather strong, and they were able to win a few key events that turned the meet in their favor."
Junior Ryan Spoon extended his undefeated streak for the season in the 200-yard breaststroke, winning for the third time this season with his time of 2:09.95. Spoon also swam the breaststroke leg of the winning 400-yard medley relay.
"I enjoy swimming in home meets and have enjoyed some success while competing at Duke," said Spoon. "One of my goals going into my collegiate career was going undefeated at home. Even though I lost last year against Davidson, I am hoping to finish my career without another loss."
Junior Justin Ward won in the 200-yard IM, touching in 1:58.30 to round out the list of first-place finishers for them men.
The swimmers will head down 15-501 to hit the water against UNC in Chapel Hill at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
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