UNC Tar Heels Take Down Queens Royals in Cross-State Dual Meet

Queens University of Charlotte vs. University of North Carolina Dual Meet

• October 1, 2021
• Levine Aquatic Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
• SCY (25 yards)
• Full Results (PDF)
• Team Scores
  • Men: North Carolina 141-Queens 121
  • Women: North Carolina 158-Queens 96

The University of North Carolina beat Queens University of Charlotte in a dual meet on Friday night to kick off their 2021-22 season. The Tar Heels prevailed 141-121 in the men’s meet and 158-96 in the women’s.

Grace Countie won three individual events to help the Tar Heels dominate the women’s meet. She was first to the wall in the 100 back (54.12), 100 free (49.85), and 200 IM (2:02.12, exhibition). Addison Smith won both the 1000 free (10:18.18) and 500 free (5:02.83). Sophie Lindner added a pair of victories in the 200 free (1:50.04) and 200 back (1:56.36). UNC’s Skyler Smith (1:03.77/2:21.15) and Lilly Higgs (1:04.48/2:20.83) went 1-2 in the 100/200 breaststrokes, each winning one. Ellie VanNote also scored a double, winning the 200 fly (2:02.49) and 100 fly (55.09, exhibition).

Valdas Abaliksta had a pair of first-place finishes for the Tar Heels. He won the 100 breast (55.22) and 200 breast (2:01.81) in tight races with Queens’ Jan Delkeskamp (56.03) and Balaázs Berecz (2:02.47). Jay Baker celebrated his first college dual meet with wins in the 500 free (4:34.72) and 1000 free (9:24.96) for UNC. He also finished third in the 200 IM.

Berecz (1:50.34) and Delkeskamp (1:51.70) went 1-2 for the Royals in the 200 IM. Queens also got wins from Alex Kunert in the 200 fly (1:47.94), Andreas Maärz in the 200 back (1:49.37), and Matej Dusa in the 50 free (20.09) and 100 free (44.51).

Full Queens University of Charlotte Release:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Following a meet last night at Davidson, the Royals men and women’s swimming programs had a quick turnaround to face perennial powerhouse North Carolina. The Royals welcomed the challenge to the Levine Aquatic Center for a Friday night frenzy. The Royals men put together a remarkable performance in the pool, but fell just shy 141-121. On the women’s side, Queens improved from their performance last night, but ultimately fell short 158-96.

Matej Dusa highlighted the men’s performance on the evening by winning the 50-yard freestyle (20.09) and 100-yard freestyle (44.51). In the 50-yard freestyle, teammate Myers Morgan raced well enough to finish third with a time of 21.06. In the 100-yard freestyle, Skyler Cook-Weeks (45.08) and Alex Kunert (46.03) finished third and fourth respectively. Finishing out the individual events, Andreas Marz topped the 200-yard backstroke (1:49.37) while Balazs Berecz won the 200-yard IM. The Royals relay units were sensational on the evening as David Wahlen, Balazs Berecz, Matej Dusa, and Skyler Cook-Weeks teamed up to finish a close second in the 200-yard medley relay. The group finished .23 seconds behind the Tar Heels. However, in the final event of the evening, Cook-Weeks, Dusa, Kunert, and Morgan paired up to rumble through the 200-yard free relay (1:20.29) for a first-place finish.

The women were led by Cece Mayer and Tova Andersson as Mayer kicked off the evening with a victory in the 100-yard fly (56.30). Fellow teammates Kayla Tennant, Natalie Van Noy, and Sophia Diagne rounded out the top four. Freshman Tova Andersson continued her impressive start to the season with a time of 2:08.78 in the 200-yard IM. Queens was outstanding in the 200-yard free relay as Tova Anderson, Danielle Melilli, Monica Gumina, and Cece Mayer teamed up to top the board with a time of 1:34.26.

The Royals will return to the pool on Saturday, Oct. 9 when they travel to Atlanta for a meet with Emory University at 11:00 a.m. Be sure to follow the Royals on Twitter and Instagram at queens_swimming to stay up to date on all the latest news and updates surrounding Queens Swimming.

Full University of North Carolina Release

CHAPEL HILL – The North Carolina swimming and diving team opened the 2021-22 season with a dual meet on Friday evening at Levine Aquatic Center against Queens University in Charlotte, NC. The meet featured both the men’s and women’s swimmers from both sides, but there was no diving competition.

The Tar Heel men and women both defeated Queens University to start their seasons. The women were led by senior Grace Countie who tallied three first place finishes to defeat Queens University 158-96.

The Tar Heel men shared the success but saw three first place finishes of their own by member in Valdas Abaliksta, taking down Queens University with a score of 141-121.

Other highlights for UNC’s women included senior Lilly Higgs and freshman Greer Pattison. Both women were able to claim three-podium finishes in their first meet of the season. For Pattison, this marks her first NCAA competition.

On the mens’s side, Boyd Poelke had a strong performance to add to the Tar Heel’s score, along with Tucker Burhans and Tomas Sungalia. Poelke secured first place finishes in the Men’s 200-yard medley relay and the men’s 100 yard fly, in addition to second place in the men’s 50 yard free.

Burhans secured two first place finishes and one second place finish, while Sungalia finished with one first place and one second place podium finish.

The women’s team was also able to claim first, second, and third place on three events: women’s 100-yard back, women’s 200-yard back, and women’s 200-yard breast.

The Tar Heels will compete in their home-opener against NC State on Wednesday October 13 at 6pm in Koury Natatorium.