DURHAM, N.C. – A year after scoring at both the men’s and women’s NCAA Championship meets, the Duke swimming and diving teams are set to open the 2014-15 campaign Saturday, Oct. 11 at ACC opponent Pittsburgh. The dual meet will get underway with the diving events at 11 a.m. at the Panthers’ Trees Pool, followed by the swimming events. Live video will be available on CollegeSportsLive.
Blue Devils Impress at Blue/White
Duke kicked off the season last weekend by holding the program’s annual Blue/White intrasquad meet at Taishoff Aquatic Pavilion. Two pool records were broken on the men’s side during the meet, as sophomore Peter Kropp clocked 53.15 in the 100-yard breaststroke for his first swim of the season. Kropp also teamed with classmates Bradley Cline, James Peek and freshman Ryan Nicholson to surpass the previous facility record in the 200 medley relay with a 1:29.45 showing. Cline posted individual first-place finishes in the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke and the 200 IM while Kropp swept the men’s breaststroke events and freshman Matt Johnson claimed first in the 500 and 1,000 freestyle. For the women, rookie Verity Abel won both distance events on the day and sophomore Jessie Sutherland touched first in the 100 backstroke and the 100 butterfly.
A Look at Duke
Head coach Dan Colella and head diving coach Nunzio Esposto discussed returning talent and their expectations for the 2014-15 campaign earlier this week on GoDuke.com. Check out the breakdown by position below.
Freshmen Looking to Make Immediate Impact
The Duke coaching staff brought in the nation’s 12th-ranked women’s recruiting class in the country this fall, according to SwimSwam. A number of Blue Devil rookies started off their collegiate careers with strong performances at the Blue/White meet last weekend. To learn more about the newcomers to the program for 2014-15, check out the stories below.
Women’s Swimming and Diving Introduces Class of 2018
Men’s Swimming and Diving Welcomes Nine Newcomers
Scouting the Competition
The Panthers will open the dual meet portion of their season as well Saturday after holding the program’s Blue-Gold Intrasquad meet last weekend. The Pitt women placed eighth and the men ninth at the 2014 ACC Championships, one spot below the Duke women and men. Kaleigh Ritter represented the program at the 2014 Women’s NCAA Championship, competing in the 500 and 1,650 freestyle. Ritter enters her junior season as the Panthers’ record holder in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyle events. On the men’s side, senior Luke Nosbisch (200m breaststroke) and sophomore Zach Lierley (200m backstroke) both earned U.S. Olympic Team Trials cuts over the summer.
Colella’s Take
“What’s exciting about having some ACC teams a little bit earlier in the schedule is that it requires the athletes to be a little bit more mentally sharp,” Colella said. “It’s going to be a very contested meet. Pittsburgh has done a nice job over the years. I think the meet could go right down to the last relays.”
The above press release was submitted by the Duke Athletics Department.
