James Madison downed Liberty 155-145 in their home opener for the 2015-16 season.
James Madison Press Release:
James Madison swimming and diving defeated Liberty 155-145 in the Dukes’ home opener Saturday afternoon in Savage Natatorium. JMU advanced to 2-0 on the season as the Flames fell to 5-2.
Madison claimed the top spot in eight of the 16 events, including wins in five straight events, highlighted by a sweep on the 1-meter and 3-meter diving competitions.
Kristen Zielinski earned the first top finish of the day for the Dukes in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:53.74.
The Dukes took control of the next five events, starting with a first-place finish by Katie Parker in the 100 breaststroke, clocking a 1:05.08
Cameron Martin won the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:07.61, followed by Camilla Czulada (23.81) in first place for the 50 freestyle.
Carly Alexander (294.90) and Olivia Lehman (291.65) dominated the 1-meter and 3-meter with each, respectively, earning a first-place finish.
Quinn MacMillan put the Dukes back on the leaderboards with a first-place finish in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:06.24.
The Dukes clinched the victory over the Flames in the final event with a first-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay with MacMillian, Molano, Zielinski and Czulada collectively earning a time of 3:30.00
Quoting Becky Benson – Full Interview
“All three of them (Carly Alexander, Olivia Lehman, Vivian Ross) have put in so much hard work and they had so much fun today and it showed in their performance.”
Quoting Dane Pedersen – Full Interview
“The team did great. We raced hard and we supported each other, and these are all the things that we talk about. I am really happy with the progression that this
team is making.”
Top Performances
200 Medley Relay – Edsall, Parker, Tremols, Czulada, 2nd place -1:45.78
1000 Freestyle – Claire Adkins, 2nd place – 10:31.87
100 Backstroke – Abby Ortman, 3rd – 58.36
100 Freestyle – Camilla Czulada, 2nd – 52.17
200 Backstroke – MaryElizabeth Warhol, 2nd – 2:06.19
200 Breaststroke – Katie Parker, 2nd – 2:22.56
100 Butterfly – Cameron Martin, 2nd – 58.14
200 IM – Katie Parker, 2nd – 2:08.38
Liberty Press Release:
Liberty and James Madison, both conference runners-up in 2015, competed in a tightly-contested dual meet on Saturday at Savage Natatorium. The host Dukes narrowly edged the Lady Flames, 155-145.
With the win, James Madison improves to 2-0 on the season, while evening the all-time series against Liberty, 2-2. Liberty (5-3), who wrapped up the dual-meet portion of its fall schedule, had won four straight dual meets prior to Saturday’s result.
The meet could not get much closer, as the teams evenly split the events, winning eight events each (seven individual, one relay).
For the second meet in a row, Liberty’s Kendall Hough won two events, claiming the 100 back and 100 free. Prudence Rooker won the 200 breaststroke and 200 IM, while Kristin VanDeventer (1000 free), Victoria Tschoke (200 back) and Alicia Finnigan (100 fly) earned one event victory each.
Courtney Fox set a new program record in three-meter diving on Saturday, with her score of 222.25 breaking her sister, Brooke’s record of 212.10.
The Lady Flames opened the meet with victory in the 200 medley relay, as Tschoke, Rooker, Hough and Rachel Hoeve clocked 1:45.32.
Hough swam a season-best 56.61 to lead a 1-2 Liberty finish in the 100 back, with Tschoke taking second in 57.13. Hough later won the 100 free in 52.16, out-touching JMU’s Camilla Czulada by .01. Hoeve’s season-best 53.21 was good for third and Chelsea Pond (53.52) finished fourth.
Rooker claimed the 200 breaststroke victory with a season-best 2:22.45 clocking, and Anna Dickinson (season-best 2:23.50) finished fourth. During the final individual event of the afternoon, Rooker won the 200 IM with a time of 2:06.52. Tschoke earned third in 2:08.56.
VanDeventer earned her third 1000 free victory of the season, swimming her best time so far this season, 10:26.08. Sarah Browning placed third in a season-best 10:31.97, while Hannah Wakeley finished fourth in 10:41.21.
Tschoke won the 200 back for the third time this year, swimming 2:04.51. Natalie Beale came in third with a season-best 2:06.29.
Finnigan touched the wall first in 57.00 in the 100 fly, while Beale’s season-best 58.16 placed third.
Fox’s record-breaking three-meter dive (222.25) placed fourth, while Madi Long (182.85) placed fifth. Long earned fourth in one-meter diving with a score of 188.50, while Fox scored 166.55 for fifth place.
Liberty’s 400 free relay team of Ashlee Sall, Hoeve, Finnigan and Pond clocked 3:31.03 during a runner-up showing.
Rooker added a second-place finish in the 100 breaststroke to her pair of victories, swimming 1:05.59. Dickinson finished just behind Rooker, in 1:06.79.
Hoeve finished second in the 50 free in a season-best 24.11, while Hough took third with a 24.22 clocking.
Wakeley (2:09.56) and Finnigan (2:10.18) claimed second and third, respectively, in the 200 fly.
VanDeventer swam 5:06.94 for a second-place showing in the 500 free.
Finnigan clocked a season-best 1:54.56 to place third in the 200 free, while Elizabeth Magnusson earned fourth in 1:55.70.
Liberty’s next meet will take place over a month from now, as the Lady Flames are scheduled to compete at the Rutgers Invitational from Nov. 19-22.
