Upcoming Event: Swimming & Diving versus Boston College on September 26, 2025 at 4 p.m. Diving / 5 p.m. Swimming
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4 p.m. Diving / 5 p.m. Swimming
Swimming & Diving
vs Boston College
Blue Devils Prep for Second Week of Action
10/28/2011 9:52:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
DURHAM, N.C. - Following a split with Maryland in last weekend's season opener, the men's and women's swimming and diving teams return to action on Saturday, Oct. 29. The Blue Devils will travel to Christiansburg, Va., to compete against Florida State, UNC Wilmington and host Virginia Tech.
The Seminoles enter Saturday's meet with a record of 3-0 on the men's side and a 5-0 mark for the women. Both squads earned third-place finishes at last year's ACC Championships and went undefeated in ACC action during the 2010-11 season. Duke has not faced Florida State since 1993, with the Seminoles leading the overall series record, 3-0.
UNC Wilmington's women have recorded a 4-1 ledger heading into the weekend while the men currently own a mark of 2-1. The Seahawks captured the Colonial Athletic Association title last year on the men's side and the women finished third at the conference meet. Duke leads in the overall series record, 33-18, after opening each of the past four seasons against the Seahawks.
Host Virginia Tech kicked off its 2011-12 season last weekend with victories over James Madison and NC State. The Hokie men are coming off of a fourth-place finish at last year's ACC Championships, while the women's team took fifth. Duke and Virginia Tech last met during the 2009-10 season, with the Hokies claiming a pair of wins.
Saturday's meet will get underway at 10 a.m., beginning with the men's one-meter and women's three-meter diving events. The swimming competition, as well as the men's three-meter and women's one-meter diving will begin at 12 p.m. The Hokies will host the meet in the Christiansburg Aquatic Center, which opened in July of 2010 and will serve as the site for the 2012 ACC Championships.
"We're excited to be going up to Virginia Tech's new facility in Christiansburg, where the ACC's are going to be held this year," said head coach Dan Colella. "It gives us an opportunity to have a trial run in competition in their facility. Virginia Tech and Florida State - obviously two great opponents in the ACC and we'll definitely have plenty of competition. UNC Wilmington will also be in the thick of things. It's going to be an exciting day of swimming and diving."
Recapping the Season Opener
The Duke men are coming off of a 177.5-121.5 victory over the Terrapins in a season-opening meet that was marked by several strong performances, including a pair of first-place finishes in both the 200 free and 200 medley relays.
Junior Ben Hwang was a double-winner in individual events for the Blue Devils, taking first in both the 50 free at 19.84 and the 100 free with a 44.66 clocking. Both marks qualified as NCAA 'B' cut performances. Piotr Safronczyk led a Duke sweep in the men's 100 breast, touching in 55.85 to finish first, followed by sophomore Hunter Knight (56.65) and junior Jim Zuponeck (56.69). Knight also won the 200 breast with a mark of 2:04.45, while Zuponeck placed first in the 500 free at 4:36.37.
Other winners for the Blue Devils included sophomore Steven Gasparini, who tied for first in the 100 back at 50.44. Junior Jordan Long won the one-meter diving competition with a score of 296.40, while senior Cody Kolodziejzyk placed first on the three-meter board at 329.63.
The Blue Devil women also had a successful first outing, despite suffering a 111-186 loss to Maryland. Freshman Megan McCarroll was impressive in her Duke debut, winning the 100 back (55.82) and the 200 back (2:01.05). Sophomore Christine Wixted was also a double-winner, taking first in both the 100 breast (1:02.26) and the 200 breast (2:14.92). Wixted's times in both events were good for NCAA 'B' cut standards.
Senior Rose O'Connor posted a victory for Duke in the 1,650 free, clocking 16:49.97. Meanwhile, senior Jessica Lyden won the three-meter diving event with a personal-best 297.38 points and placed second on the one-meter board. Lyden's scores in both events qualified her for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships.
Hwang Posts No. 1 Time in the 50 Free
Hwang's 19.84 clocking in the 50 free represents the nation's top performance in the event so far during the 2011-12 season. He is also the only swimmer to have broken the 20-second barrier in the event this year. In addition, Hwang's mark of 44.66 in the 100 free last Saturday currently ranks as the eighth-best performance nationally.
Ten other Blue Devils also broke into the national rankings on the men's side, including Safronczyk at ninth in the 100 breast. Gasparini - who made his first appearance as a Blue Devil last week after transferring from Clemson - is ranked in the 100 back, 100 fly and the 200 IM. In addition, Duke's winning 200 free and 200 medley relays from last weekend turned in top-five performances nationally.
The Duke women notched 14 nationally-ranked performances in the season opener, with Wixted leading the way at third in the 200 breast and fourth in the 100 breast. O'Connor also cracked the top 10 in the country with her showing in the 1,650 free. Two of the Blue Devils' relay squads are also currently ranked among the top 25 in the nation.
Blue Devil Swimmers Earn Weekly Accolades
For his performance against the Terrapins, Hwang received ACC Men's Swimming & Diving Performer of the Week honors. He was also named the Ronald McDonald House Charities Duke Student-Athlete of the Week. Meanwhile, Wixted shared ACC Women's Swimming & Diving Performer of the Week accolades with North Carolina's Stephanie Peacock.
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Players Mentioned
Back/Fly/IM
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Sprints
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Breast/IM
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Diving
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Diving
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Diving
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Back/Fly/IM
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Distance/Free
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Breast/Free
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Breast/IM
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Breast/IM
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