Duke Swimming and Diving Grounds Seahawks

Saturday, October 17

Durham, N.C.

2:00 p.m.

Duke University

UNC Wilmington

Duke Swimming and Diving Grounds Seahawks

10/17/2009 7:15:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – Both the men's and the women's swim and dive teams picked up their first wins of the season, downing UNC-Wilmington at Taishoff Aquatics Pavilion Saturday afternoon.

To begin the meet, both the men and the women surrendered victories in the 200 medley relays to the visiting Seahawks, but it was the way Duke responded that set the tone for the rest of the meet. In the very next race, the women posted a sweep of the 1000 freestyle led by junior Ashley Twichell with a time of 10:04.71 and senior Jackie Fasano in 10:16.27. The men's 1000 freestyle was highlighted by a first place finish from sophomore Nathan French (9:40.46) and second place from freshman Alex Harmon (9:47.49).

On the men's side the score bounced back and forth into the 50 freestyle, but the Blue Devils emerged from the first break with newfound vigor.

“We had a meeting and talked to the men about finding another gear and stepping it up in the back half, said Head Coach Dan Colella. “And right out of the gates that's what they did.”

Ultimately the men edged out a well-prepared and skilled UNCW squad by a score of 163-137. All week long, Colella had cautioned his men's team not to discount the passion and intensity of the Seahawks.

“There was no question that I knew [UNCW's] men would be really pumped and ready for this meet,” Colella said. “It's been a good dual meet for the last several years and they definitely stepped it up from what we saw last year. They came to race today.”

Across the board, the Duke men turned in impressive first swims of the season, however, this meet was about the emergence of some talented freshmen. On the diving boards, freshman Nick McCrory convincingly established a new record in the three-meter competition en route to first place. Trailing heading into his final dive on the one-meter board, McCrory landed a spectacular dive to edge out the competition for his second first place finish of the meet. Freshman sprinter Ben Hwang, a relative unknown heading into the season, proved he has what it takes to contend at the collegiate level winning both the 50 and 100 freestyles and impressing his coach in the process.

“Ben was exciting to watch today,” Colella said of his freshman. “From his training background at home this has been a big jump for him and for him to be swimming as fast as he is when you consider that we have probably doubled or even tripled his workload is pretty remarkable.”

The women, after their somewhat rocky start, cruised to victory by a score of 175-120. Sophomore diver, Abby Johnston began the 2009-10 campaign where she left off last season, handedly winning both the one and three-meter competitions. And Ashley Twichell, in addition to her first place in the 1000 freestyle, recorded the meet's fastest time in the 500 freestyle with a 4:59.82.

The women's squad, much like the men's, was greatly benefitted by impressive swims out of a foursome of freshmen. Kate Toth notched first place in the 200 freestyle (1:54.77), Emily Barber took first in the 100 breast (1:05.10), Cara Vogel posted the fastest time in the 200 backstroke (2:05.01), and Haley Read secured the top spot in the 200 IM (2:08.11).

The performances of his freshman women were not lost on Colella.

“One of the things I was really proud of was how the freshmen stepped up and raced today. I thought they swam with a lot of composure and did a great job,” he commented.

The Blue Devils will return to action next Saturday as they take on Maryland and N.C. State in a double-dual meet scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Maryland's Campus Recreation Center Natatorium.