ACC Saturday Recap: Duke Sweeps North Carolina in Down-to-the-Wire Dual

Duke senior Leah Goldman -- Photo Courtesy: Nat LeDonne/Duke Athletics

During the final day of ACC swimming dual meet action, Duke’s women and men beat North Carolina for the second straight year. Before 2017, Duke’s women had never won against their Tobacco Road rival, while the Blue Devil men had not beaten UNC in 78 years.

Both meets Saturday came down to the wire, with Duke’s men winning by just 15 points, 157.5 to 142.5, while the women’s meet was even closer: 151 to 149.

Duke’s women opened the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay, as Maddie Hess, Connie Dean, Alyssa Marsh and Leah Goldman finished in 1:40.68. Verity Abel picked up wins in the 1000 (9:59.56) and 500 free (4:52.94), and Hess also won twice, taking first in the 100 (54.07) and 200 back (1:58.68).

Isabella Paez won the 200 fly in 1:58.15, Kylie Jordan was a winner in the 100 fly (54.49), and Goldman claimed the win in the 200 IM (2:00.40), putting the Blue Devils in position to need just a second-place finish in the 400 free relay to clinch the meet.

For UNC, senior sprinter Caroline Baldwin pulled her weight with wins wins in both the 50 (22.51) and 100 free (49.52), while diver Maria Lohman took wins on both 1-meter (341.10) and 3-meter (304.95). Zhada Fields won the 200 free (1:48.99), Brooke Perrotta took first in the 100 breast (1:02.77), and Caroline Hauder finished on top in the 200 breast (2:15.46).

Baldwin, Kathryn Ford, Robin Dryer and Brooke Bauer won the 400 free relay in 3:22.94, but the top Duke team of Hess, Abel, Paez and Marsh held off UNC’s “B” team for second, 3:24.01 to 3:24.29, to clinch the meet.

On the men’s side, Yusuke Legard led the way for Duke with wins in the 50 (20.03) and 100 free (44.53). Miles Williams took first in the 200 free (1:37.91), and Zach Washart won the 1000 free (9:25.12). In diving, Nathaniel Hernandez won on 1-meter (358.80) and Teddy Zeng took first on 3-meter (411.08).

The relay team of Max St. George, Sean Tate, Williams and Legard won the 200 medley relay in 1:28.21, and Legard, Williams, Alex Pena and Tate topped the meet-ending 400 free relay in 2:59.55.

The Tar Heel men had three double-winners, with Alvin Jiang winning the 100 back (47.69) and 100 fly (48.21), Valdas Abaliksta topping the 100 (54.84) and 200 breast (2:01.12) and Henry Campbell touching the wall first in the 500 free (4:28.91) and 200 IM (1:50.52). UNC’s Thomas Bilden won the 200 fly (1:49.81).

Full results

Florida Atlantic at Florida State

Hosting in-state opponent Florida Atlantic, the Seminoles closed out their dual meet season with a pair of easy victories, 150-88 in the women’s meet and 168-66 in the men’s.

Emma Terebo had two wins for the Seminole women, in the 200 free (1:50.39) and 100 back (55.36), while Alexi Smith won the 50 free (23.23), Kile Carriger took first in the 200 IM (2:06.50) and McKenna Keith won the 100 free (52.50). Also taking first were Natalie Purnell in the 100 breast (1:03.58) and divers Blaire Mulka on 3-meter (333.30) and Ayla Bonniwell on 1-meter (279.23).

The all-senior quartet of Tayla Lovemore, Natalie Pierce, Smith and Ariel Barber won the 200 medley relay in 1:43.46, and the same foursome returned to win the 200 free relay in 1:34.47.

John Maxatas was the performer of the day for the Seminole men, taking first in the 50 free (20.42) and 100 fly (48.46). Daniel Bis won the 1000 free in 9:26.02), Rudo Loock won the 200 IM (1:51.05), and Felipe Ribeiro de Souza took first in the 100 free (44.46). Will Pisani won the 200 fre (1:39.86), while Matt Ankerholz won the 100 breast (56.34).

Connor Kalisz was the 100 back winner in 49.52, and divers Josh Davidson (1-meter, 327.00) and Cameron Thatcher (3-meter, 377.78) each had victories. The team of Kalisz, Ankerholz, Jonathan Ratliff and Chad Mylin won the 200 medley relay (1:30.56), while Kanoa Kaleoaloha, Emir Muratovic, Ribeiro de Souza and Vladimir Stafanik won the 200 free relay (1:21.50).

Emory at Georgia Tech

Like Florida State, the Yellow Jackets posted a pair of easy victories at home, with the women beating the Emory Eagles 150 to 82 and the men’s team coming out on top Emory 162-56.

Iris Wang won both the 100 IM (58.21) and 100 free (50.06), while diver Cami Hidalgo posted wins on both the 1-meter (300.98) and 3-meter (362.10) boards.

Emily Ilgenfritz won the 1650 free in 17:15.60, while Kaitlin Kitchens won the 200 free (1:51.25) and Catriona MacGregor scored a win in the 50 free (24.12).

Laura Branton topped the 100 fly in 56.51 before Caroline Lee won the 100 back (56.10). Celine Nugent won the 500 free (5:03.87), and in the meet’s last individual event, Florina Ilie won the 100 breast (1:04.62). Megan Young, Kira de Bruyn, Morgan Lyons and Kitchens won the 200 medley relay in 1:44.09, and taking first in the 200 free relay was the team of Wang, Ilgenfritz, Morgan Pascal and Lyons (1:35.38).

For the men, Matt Casillas swept the two diving events, with scores of 322.58 on 1-meter and 424.95 on 3-meter. Teammate Rodrigo Correia won the 200 (1:37.48) and 100 free (44.46), while Moises Loschi won the 100 breast (54.53) and 500 free (4:34.31).

Also winning for GT were Joonas Koski in the 1650 free (15:53.31), Corben Miles in the 50 free (20.32), Caio Pumputis in the 100 IM (48.86) and Franco Reyes in the 100 fly (48.36). Brad Oberg, Loschi, Alex Kimpel and Noah Harasz won the 200 medley relay in 1:32.07, and the team of Miles, Correia, Reyes and Pumputis won the 200 free relay to close out the meet in 1:21.50.

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