Dukes Down La Salle in Season Opener

Saturday, October 10

Philadelphia, Pa.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

181

116

La Salle

10/10/2015 7:01:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The James Madison swimming and diving team kicked off the season with a 181-116 victory over La Salle at Kirk Pool Saturday afternoon.

JMU topped the leaderboards in 10 of the 16 events, including wins in four straight events.

The Dukes started the meet claiming three of the top four spots in the 400 medley relay. They were led by MaryElizabeth Warhol, Katie Parker, Nina Tremols and Carli Molano, who clocked a 3:56.07 to earn a first-place finish.

Sophomore Katie Parker followed suit, finishing first in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:56.67.

Amanda Presgraves won the 50 breaststroke with a time of 31.63 seconds, followed by senior Camilla Czulada (24.02) in first place of the 50 freestyle.

Redshirt junior Taryn McLaughlin led a JMU domination of the diving boards with two first-place finishes on the day, notching a 278.77 in the 1-meter and 295.80 in the 3-meter.

Czulada (53.09) earned her second first-place finish of the day in the 100 freestyle. Abby Ortman (2:07.39) continued the strong finishes for the Dukes as she won the 200 backstroke.

Parker (2:22.87) won the 200 breaststroke followed by Kacy Edsall (26.86), who closed out the top finishes of the day with a victory in the 50 butterfly.

Quoting Dane Pedersen
"The team did a great job today working together as a unit and it was good to see them be a true team and family at our first competition. We also did a good job not only racing but applying al the details we have been working on in practice and from the purple and gold meet last weekend."

Quoting Becky Benson
"We got off to a good start today after only four weeks of training. There is room for improvement both physically and mentally but I am looking forward to watching the team improve at the upcoming meets."

Atop the Leaderboards
Ortman, Presgrasves, Breeger and Barney clocked 3:57.20 in the400 medley good enough for a second-place finish. Claire Adkins finsihed second in the 1000 freestyle for a team-best 10:39.59. Courtney Clarke (2:11.87) and Maddie Massey (2:12.97) and finished second and third in the 200 butterfly. Cameron Martin ( 5:07.88) and Quinn MacMillan (5:11.80) followed suit and claimed second and third in the 500 freestyle. Olivia Lehman finished second in the 1-meter with 251.9 and third in the 3-meter with 232.95 and Carly Alexander earned a second-place finish in the 3-meter with 256.05.

Debuts for the Dukes
Freshman Jillian Breeger made her collegiate debut with a second-place finish in the 400 medley relay, clocking a 3:57.20 with Ortman, Presgraves and Barney. Madison Oster (10:52.97 – 3rd) and Kelly Long (2:02.02 – 5th) also made their collegiate debuts in the 1000 freestyle and 200 freestyle, respectively.

Photo of the Day

Looking Ahead

The Dukes take on Liberty next Saturday, October 17, in the first home meet of the season beginning at 11 a.m. A year ago, the Dukes fell to the Flames 194-155 in the Virginia Tech Swimming Challenge but defeated them 212-139 in Harrisonburg.