Dukes Take Home Fifth Straight Team Title; Win ECAC Championships

Sunday, February 27

Annapolis, Md.

9 a.m. - Prelims / 4 p.m. - Finals

James Madison University

day three

Dukes Take Home Fifth Straight Team Title; Win ECAC Championships

2/27/2022 9:11:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

Photo Gallery

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The James Madison swimming and diving team took home a team title for a fifth consecutive season, as they finished out and won the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships on Sunday afternoon at Lejeune Hall.

Sophomore Jess Pryne was named Swimmer of the Meet for the weekend, becoming the first Duke to earn a Championship Swimmer of the Meet honor since Bonnie Zhang in 2019. Head Coach Dane Pedersen also took home an award, being named the Coach of the Meet.

The Dukes scored 695 points over the weekend to take home the title, with Navy taking second at 642.5 points.

How It Happened
- In the 1650 Free finals, Abby Maguire and Sidney Whitfield finished second and third, respectively. Maguire swam a time of 16:55.92 while Whitfield finished with a time of 17:09.33.
- Madison Cottrell picked up her third win of the weekend, taking the 200 back with a time of 1:58.50.
- Also in the 200 Back, Cameron Gring finished second with the sixth fastest time in program history at 1:58.83.
- Karen Siddoway took home a silver in the 100 Free, as she swam a 50.43 for the eighth fastest time in program history.
- Both Pryne and Morgan Whaley placed in the 200 Fly, with Pryne swimming a time of 2:00.58 and Whaley right behind her at 2:00.73.
- Abby Zindler swam a time of 2:25.21 in the 200 Breaststroke to finish 13^th.

Quoting Head Coach Dane Pedersen
"The biggest lesson COVID taught me last year was that I coach an amazingly resilient group of women. The CAA's decision in November once again asked more than this group should have to overcome. In 72 hours, they processed, moved on, and illustrated resolve beyond their years. I couldn't be prouder. The championship is great tangible proof of the success of their efforts, but the memories of laughter, dancing, and smiles are the best reward I could hope for. Thank you to the ECAC for hosting an amazing championship event, allowing us to attend, and illustrating true class.

Up Next
Five divers will return to Annapolis on Monday and Tuesday, March 7-8 to compete in the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships. Alexa Holloway and Lindsey Hammar will compete in both boards, while Maddie Yager will compete in the 1-meter and Lexi Lehman and Abi White will compete in the 3-meter.

Pryne and Cottrell will wait to see if they go to Atlanta for the NCAA Swim and Dive Championships on March 16-19 thanks to their B cut times they recorded over the weekend.