The Duke women's swimming team (4-6) defeated William and Mary 143-100, while the men's team (3-7) fell to the Tribe 121.5-101.5 in both teams' last regular season meet of the year. Nevertheless, both teams felt it was one of the most productive meets of the season, and that the meet should provide momentum for the ACC Championships.
Sophomores Lauren Hancock and Lauren Cornet were both double winners for the Blue Devils. Hancock won the 1,000-yard freestyle and 500 freestyle, and Cornet was triumphant in the 200 individual medley and 200 breaststroke.
The men standouts were John Humphrey, winner of the 200 IM, and Drew Dinsick, who placed first in the 1,000-yard freestyle. The Duke men also swept the 200 backstroke, with Dave Peck, Chris Fleizach and Ryan Harsch finishing first, second and third, respectively.
"It was by far the most exciting meet we've had all year," Hancock said.
Humphrey shared this opinion.
"Everyone was cheering almost the entire meet. It was the best atmosphere," Humphrey said.
Although the atmosphere was great, the swimmers thought the pool conditions were far below average.
"The pool was a miserable pool," said Dinsick. "It was one of the worst facilities we've swam in all year. But a lot of our guys had some of their best times of the season, which was great."
Despite its loss, the men's team performed exceptionally, setting several pool records. Its chances at victory were thwarted when Ryan Spoon was disqualified on an official's controversial decision in the 200 breaststroke, the meet's second to last event.
"I don't think even if he hadn't been disqualified, [that] we would have won," said assistant coach Whitney Greene. "But I did think the disqualification was absolutely ridiculous. The official was completely on a power trip."
Both the men's and the women's teams felt they swam a little harder because it was the final meet before the ACC Championships.
"I think all swam well because we knew it was the last meet, and we all wanted to perform well before the conference meet," said Humphrey.
The team is optimistic about its chances at the ACC Championships.
"The times we got [Saturday] really bode well for the end of the season," Greene said. "I think we're really going to surprise some people."
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