Queens soared through the water on Saturday, November 1, 2014, as the Royals women’s swim team took to the lanes against the Bulldogs of Wingate University. The Royals grabbed a 104-101 victory taking six first place finishes in the 11 event dual meet.
“I was really proud of our fight,” said Head Men’s and Women’s Coach Jeff Dugdale. “The thing I like best about our rivalry is that it brings out the best on both sides. Also, this was a great quiz for our team, but we are going to stay focus on the final exam, NCAAs.”
Queens came off the blocks narrowly missing the lead in the 400 Medley Relay. Hannah Peiffer, Caroline Arakelian, Alexandra Marshall, and Shane Knight, respectfully, missed first place by three tenths of a second as they touched for the second place finish. Their swim would put them under the NCAA ‘B’ Standard and move them to second in the nation (if results remain the same nationally).
Nikki Johnston gave the Royals their first top finish of the day, on the women’s side, flying past the competition for a 10:36.30 touch in the 1000 Freestyle. Lauren Frizzell would take second place in the event with a 10:55.02.
It was a second and third place finish for the Royals in the 200 Freestyle as McKenzie Stevens sought a 1:55.99 finish with teammate Linda Baron clocking a 1:56.72.
Taking the 50 Freestyle, Marshall harnessed a 24.20, NCAA ‘B’ Standard, finish. Her time placed her within the top ten for NCAA Division II swimmers as she fell eight on the list. Kristin Diemer would give Queens their second swimmer in the top three, clocking a 24.91 third place finish.
Continuing her dominance in the water, Arakelian took hold of a first place win elevating past the competition in the 200 Individual Medley. Her time of 2:03.39 would place her nearly eight seconds faster than the heat.
Pfeiffer would fall just shy of first in the 200 Butterfly, but would land fifth among Division II swimmers taking a NCAA ‘B’ Standard time. Stevens would round out the top three with a 2:09.56 giving the Royal two athletes at the top.
It would be another Royals event as Marshall took hold of the 100 Freestyle with a 52.91. Although she would come shy of the NCAA ‘B’ Standard, Marshall’s race placed her eight nationally.
In her second first place finish of the day, Arakelian touched with a 2:00.36 in the 200 Backstroke. She would again find separation for the event, finishing over four seconds faster than second place.
Johnson provided the last first place finish on the women’s side, powering into the wall for a time of 5:09.73 in the 500 Freestyle.
With the meet nearing the end, the Royals would find two teams in the top three for the 400 Free Relay, as the team of Kristina Kosloski, Diemer, Stevens, and Shane Knight, respectfully, lead the Royals into second place touching with a 3:35.65.
Queens will take to the road for their next meet traveling to the Davidson Invite on November 7th, at Davidson College.
MEN
Men’s swimming sets a new standard in the pool against Wingate
Queens University of Charlotte men’s swim team took to the water on Saturday, November 1, 2014, against the Wingate University Bulldogs. The Royals took the meet with a 124.5-80.5 victory and eight of the 11 first place finishes.
“I was really proud of our fight,” said Head Men’s and Women’s Coach Jeff Dugdale. “The thing I like best about our rivalry is that it brings out the best on both sides. Also, this was a great quiz for our team but we are going to stay focus on the final exam, NCAAs.”
The Royals began the meet with a strong performance, opening with a first place finish in the 400 Yard Medley Relay. Matt Josa, Nic Erkisson, Austin Sumrall, and Felipe Oliviera, took charge and broke a pool record, finishing with a time of 3:20.99, which would earn the team an NCAA ‘B’ standard time.
The men would once again dominate in the water, in the event of the 1000 Yard Freestyle. Nic Arakelian and Alex Menke would pull a double win for Queens, touching first and second at 9:30.50 and 9:31.03, respectfully. Both swimmers would fall under the NCAA ‘B’ time standard.
Josa touched first in the 200 Yard Freestyle with a NCAA standard ‘B’ time of 1:39.47, ranking him third on the national stage in this event.
Eriksson would place first in the 50 Yard Freestyle, touching at 21.05.
Arakelian and Ben Taylor would continue the Royals run, placing first and second in the 200 Yard Individual Medley. Arakelian clocked in a first place time of 1:53.09, while Taylor finished close behind, with a time of 1:55.32.
Josa grabbed another first place finish, this time in the 200 Yard Butterfly with an NCAA ‘B’ standard time of 1:51.46.
For the 200 Yard Backstroke, Taylor and Zach Phelps provided an exceptional performance for the Royals, placing second and third for the event. Taylor touched in second finishing at 1:54.68, with Phelps following in at 1:56.91.
It would be another one-two finish for the Royals with dominate duo Arakelian and Menke taking on the 500 Yard Freestyle. Arakelian would touch with a NCAA ‘B’ standard time of 4:38.31, while Menke trailed close behind, touching at 4:39.25.
Sumrall, Suther, Taylor, and Kosater would conclude the meet with a pool record breaking first place finish in the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay with a time of 3:05.62. Dacruz, Phelps, Hughes, and Gibson would pull a third place win for the Royals, clocking in at 3:12.60.
The Royals will hit the blocks next on Friday November 7, 2014, as they travel for the Davidson Invite at Davidson College.
College Swimming News courtesy of Queens University.
