Dukes Fall in Season-Opening Meet

Saturday, October 9

Towson, Md.

10 a.m. - Diving / 1 p.m. - Swimming

James Madison University

143

157

Towson

10/9/2021 5:52:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

TOWSON, Md. – The James Madison swim & dive team fell in its season-opening meet against Towson, 157-143, on Saturday at Burdick Pool.

The divers started the meet off by claiming three of the four top spots in the 1-meter dive, with Maddie Yager and Lindsey Hammar claiming first and second, respectively. Both scores for Yager and Hammar were NCAA Zone Championship qualifying scores. Alexa Holloway then claimed the second spot in the 3-meter dive while Hammar finished fourth.

The swimmers then took their places along the pool, coming away with five first-place finishes in the 50 freestyle, the 100 backstroke, the 200 medley relay, the 200 backstroke, and the 200 IM. The Dukes' swept the 100 backstroke, as Alaina Park finished with a time of 57.94 and was followed by Cameron Gring (58.17) and Lauren Aylmer (58.88).

Gring found herself in first place on multiple occasions in addition to her second-place finish in the 100 backstroke. She came out on top in the 200 backstroke and 200 medley relay as she placed in every event she swam in.

Quoting Head Coach Dane Pedersen
"It was great to compete today after a pandemic season fraught with uncertainties and unknown. Although protocols are still in place and the pandemic is not over, it was nice to have a sense of normalcy with competing. All credit goes to Towson today. They were the better team. They outraced and outdove us. We understand this is a long season and we have a lot of opportunities to improve through hard work. I have every belief this team will do just that.

Up Next
The Dukes will be back in the pool on Friday, Oct. 22 when they travel to take on Duquesne. The swimmers will compete at 4 p.m. at Duquesne's Towers Pool while the divers will compete at 5:30 p.m. at Carnegie Mellon's Swimming & Diving Pool.