Blue Devils Split With Maryland in Season Opener

Saturday, October 22

College Park, Md.

1:00 PM

Duke University

Maryland

Blue Devils Split With Maryland in Season Opener

10/22/2011 5:49:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

By: Duke Sports Information

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Duke swimming and diving teams opened the season Saturday with a tough ACC matchup against Maryland at the Terrapins' Eppley Recreation Center in College Park, Md.

The Blue Devil men kicked off their 2011-12 campaign in winning fashion, defeating the Terrapins 177.5-121.5.

Duke opened the meet with a victory in the men's 200 medley relay, as newcomers Steven Gasparini and Piotr Safronczyk teamed up with senior Ben Tuben and junior Ben Hwang to take first in 1:30.05. Hwang, junior Adam Flur, Safronczyk and Tuben also won the 200 free relay with a mark of 1:22.09.

Hwang was a double-winner for the Blue Devils in individual events, placing first in the 50 free (19.84) and the 100 free (44.66). In addition, Hwang's clocking in the 50 free also qualified as an NCAA 'B' cut time and a new pool record at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center.

"The guys went out right from the start and opened up with a great 200 medley," said head coach Dan Colella. "[Hwang's] goal was to try to break 20 seconds this season, and to do it in the first meet was a great accomplishment."

Gasparini tied for first in the 100 backstroke, recording a time of 50.44 to finish alongside Bradley Dillon of Maryland, while Safronczyk led a Duke sweep in the 100 breaststroke event. The Bialystok, Poland native touched in 55.85 to finish first, followed by sophomore Hunter Knight (56.65) and junior Jim Zuponeck (56.69).

Knight won the 200 breast with a time of 2:04.45 while junior Ted Minturn notched a personal-best in the 200 back, clocking 1:51.34 to finish second. Junior Matt Carder also turned in a winning performance, taking first in the 500 free (4:36.37).

Junior Jordan Long and senior Cody Kolodziejzyk turned in solid performances in the men's diving events, with Long taking first on the one-meter board and Kolodziejzyk winning the three-meter competition. In addition, Kolodziejzyk's score of 329.63 on the three-meter springboard qualified him for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships.

On the women's side, Duke kept the score close in the earlygoing but ultimately fell to Maryland, 111-186.

"The score actually doesn't reflect the kind of performances we had today," Colella said. "Our goal was to be able to come out and win some events and to challenge them where we could."

Freshman Meghan McCarroll won the 100 back with a time of 55.82 while junior Francesca Tocci took third in the event at 56.54. Tocci also posted a personal-best 51.41 to finish second in the 100 free. Meanwhile, McCarroll also recorded a first-place finish in the 200 back, clocking 2:01.05.

Sophomore Christine Wixted picked up right where she left off last season, winning the 100 breast in 1:02.26 and taking first in the 200 breast at 2:14.92. Her performances in both events qualified as NCAA 'B' cut marks.

Senior Rose O'Connor won the 1,650 free at 16:49.97, while sophomore Lauren Weaver posted a personal-best 23.49 to take second in the 50 free.

Redshirt junior Jessica Lyden won the three-meter diving competition with a personal-best 297.38 points and placed second on the one-meter board at 75.25 points. Both scores qualified Lyden for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships.

"I was really proud of how both the men and women performed," Colella said. "We're going to come off this weekend with a nice set of accomplishments, but we also have a lot of things to be worked on to prepare for next weekend."

The Blue Devils return to action on Saturday, Oct. 29 when they travel to Christiansburg, Va., to face Virginia Tech, Florida State and UNC Wilmington. That meet will get underway at 12 p.m.

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