Dukes Defeat All Three Opponents in Conference Pod Meet

Saturday, November 6

Wilmington, N.C.

10 a.m. Swimming / 12 p.m. Diving (Sat,)

James Madison University

210

136

William & Mary

11/7/2021 1:07:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

WILMINGTON, N.C.— James Madison swimming & diving picked up where it left off at the end of the first day, defeating all three opponents in the 2021 Conference Pod Meet at Seahawk Natatorium.

The Dukes defeated William & Mary (210-136), Delaware (252-100), and UNCW (180-172) to pick up their first three wins of the season and move to 3-2 overall and 3-1 in conference meets.

Swim Session #3
JMU started off the day strong, as Jessica Pryne picked up her second first-place finish of the Pod Meet with a time of 5:00.71 in the 500 freestyle. Cameron Gring then followed her up with her own first-place finish, posting a time of 2:02.46 to set a new pool record in the 200 backstroke. Alaina Park also placed in the event, coming in third with a time of 2:04.02.

Two more individual places were accomplished by the Dukes, as Jordyn Schnell picked up a third-place finish in the 100 freestyle (52.45) and Madison Cottrell secured a second-place finish in the 200 breaststroke (2:21.86). Schnell's time was the best time she has recorded this season in the event.

Pryne came in fourth in the 200 butterfly, missing third place by five hundredths of a second with a time of 2:06.05. The Dukes then capped off the Pod Meet with their fifth top-three finish out of six events on day two, securing third in the 400 freestyle relay as the team of Karen Siddoway, Grace Bousum, Schnell, and Emily Drakopoulos recorded a time of 3:30.43.

Day One Recap
The Dukes wrapped up the first day of the Conference Pod Meet atop the standings as they led William & Mary (143-91), Delaware (172-68), and UNCW (124-116). JMU placed in 12 out of the 13 events and finished with four first-place finishes. A pair of Dukes also set Seahawk Natatorium records as Pryne recorded a time of 4:22.29 in the 400 IM and Gring posted a time of 56.14 in the 100 backstroke.

Quoting Head Coach Dane Pedersen
"On its own, this was an amazing weekend of swimming and diving by our girls. When you factor in the emotional rollercoaster they endured from being banned from the CAA Championships, it's even more impressive what they accomplished against some very stiff competition"

"After our previous two disappointing dual meets, we had discussed the need to improve our racing and energy. Then the conference decision came out and heightened our challenge and our resolve. We made the point that the competitors on the pool deck were not responsible for the conference decision, but their bosses were and that helped fuel our motivation. Our girls supported each other from the start of the meet through all four sessions which is what JMUSD is all about."

"I couldn't be prouder of how this team processed the bad news, provided thoughtful feedback, and moved on to focus on this weekend. What a special group we have the honor of coaching."

"I also want to thank the fellow CAA swimming and diving coaches this weekend, both on deck and from afar, that sent out messages of support and disappointment in the university presidents' decisions. We were shown great sportsmanship and compassion by our fellow CAA swimming and diving community."

Up Next
JMU jumps back into the pool in two weeks, as the divers will compete in the NC State Invitational at Raleigh, N.C. on Nov. 18-19. The swimmers will be heading to Charlotte, N.C. to compete in Queens University of Charlotte's Fall Frenzy on Nov. 19-21.