James Madison Opens Season With Home Victory Over Marshall

Courtesy: JMU Sports

Harrisonburg, Va. – James Madison swimming & diving opened the 2020-21 season with a home victory over Marshall, 172-126, on Saturday afternoon. The Dukes picked up 11 first place finishes including both diving events.

“First I want to thank Marshall, their administration, coaching staff and program,” said head coach Dane Pedersen. “Traveling and competing in these uncertain times has proven to be a great challenge so I cannot thank them enough for allowing us to host them and for competing against us. Likewise I’d also like to thank the support and leadership of our athletic administration and sports medicine department. For most of our team it has almost been a full calendar year since they last competed. It was nice to see the girls for a few hours and enjoy being around each other in a racing and competitive environment.”JMU opened the meet with a victory from Cameron Gring, Madison Cottrell, Morgan Whaley and Jill Santiago in the 400-yard medley relay with a time of 3:51.47. Gring broke the Savage Pool record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 55.66 when she led the relay. The record was previously held by Bonnie Zhang with a time of 55.80. Seniors  Julianna Jones and Bailey Butler kept the moment going in the 1650-yard freestyle event by claiming first and second place. Jones finished with a time of 17:29.88 and Butler finished with 17:48.89. The two seniors claimed the top two spots in the 500-yard freestyle event, Jones taking first and Butler claiming second.

The Dukes swept the 200-yard freestyle with Santiago taking first, followed by Gring in second and Sidney Whitfield in third. Alaina Park led the way for JMU in the 100-yard backstroke taking first with a time of 57.66, followed by teammates Lauren Aylmer in second and Isabel Anbar in the third spot. Cottrell competed in the breaststroke events for the team taking first in the 100-yard with a time of 1:06.46 and second in the 200-yard.

Senior Paige Assaid battled in the sprint freestyle events placing second in the 50-yard (24.77) and first in the 100-yard (52.66). Gring took home two individual first place finishes in the 200-yard backstroke (2:03.78) and 200-yard individual medley relay (2:06.78).

The JMU divers dominated the boards taking top spot on both. Senior diver Sarah Stim scored 283.58 on the 3-meter board to win the event while also producing her first NCAA Zone A qualifying score of the season. Freshman Lexi Lehman took home her first collegiate win on the 1-meter with a score of 280.12 and placed second on the 3-meter. Sami Ullman held her own the boards taking third on in both events. 

“We were all over the place, but I’m not really worried about it. We have plenty of time to shore up deficiencies. This meet provided great assessment and feedback as we move forward toward our conference championships.”
UP NEXT

James Madison swim will take a road trip to Charlottesville, Va. to compete in the Virginia Invite on Feb. 5-7.

Courtesy: Marshall Athletics

HARRISONBURG, Va. — The Marshall University women’s swimming and diving team fell to the James Madison University Dukes in its final regular season meet with a final score of 172-126.

• Results

Senior Darby Coles placed first in the 50 Yard Freestyle (24.32) and won the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay as a member with three freshmen Claire Kenney, Klava Katayama and Madeline Hart (1:37.18). Coles also placed second in the 100 Yard Freestyle (53.14).

Sophomore Nicole Rueff took first place in the 200 Yard Butterfly (2:06.31) and finished second in the 100 Yard Butterfly (58.02).

Freshman Eszter Laban placed second in both 200 Yard Butterfly (2:07.12) and the 200 Individual Medley (2:11.35).

Freshman Paige Banton picked up her first collegiate win in the 200 Breaststroke (2:21.77) and placed second in the 100 Yard Breaststroke (1:06.57).

Freshman Klava Katayama won the 100 Yard Butterfly (57.38).

Freshman Alaina Laster finished second in the 1-Meter Diving (241.27) and fourth in the 3-Meter Diving (232.88).

Coach Ian Walsh Quotes:

“We were a bit flat coming into the first half of this meet,” Marshall Head Coach Ian Walsh said. “After diving, I thought the women responded well and brought a lot more energy on deck. Because of that we saw a lot more positive things come together.”

“I thought Darby’s (Coles) lead off in the medley relay and individual win in the 50 were strong showings today. Nicole Rueff ran down the field in the 200 Fly and we were able to get a 1-2 finish with Eszter (Laban) closely behind.”

“Alaina (Laster) had another great showing this weekend improving upon both performances last weekend.”

“Paige’s (Banton) 200 breast was right on her dual meet best and she got her first collegiate win. Klava (Katayama) continues to progress in her 100 fly and also came away with the win, leading our 1-2-3 finish. A great end to the meet and was proud of how we kept competing through the final relay.”

FULL MARSHALL RESULTS:

400 Medley Relay: 2^nd–Darby Coles, Paige Banton, Madeline Hart, Klava Katayama (3:54.18)
4^th–Raeleigh Mooij, Audrey West, Nicole Rueff, Claire Kenney (4:02.90)

1650 Freestyle: 3^rd–Adriana Abruzzino (18:09.24)
4^th–Maria McGovern (18:18.54)

200 Freestyle: 4^th–Klava Katayama (1:59.17)
5^th–Alexis Wilhoit (1:59.18)
6^th–Grace Cox (2:00.45)

100 Backstroke: 4^th–Or Tamir (1:00.15)
5^th–Mackenzie Rider (1:03.88)

100 Breaststroke: 2^nd–Paige Banton (1:06.57)
3^rd–Audrey West (1:08.36)
4^th–Naomee Miller (1:08.60)
5^th–Grace Valenza (x1:10.38)

200 Butterfly: 1^st–Nicole Rueff (2:06.31)
2^nd–Eszter Laban (2:07.12)
4^th–Madeline Hart (2:10.57)
6^th–Gina Cantoral (x2:13.29)

50 Freestyle: 1^st–Darby Coles (24.32)
3^rd–Regan Raines (24.83)
6^th–Claire Kenney (25.43)
8^th–Raeleigh Mooij (x26.01)

3 Meter Diving: 4^th–Alaina Laster (232.88)
6^th–Joelle Williams (132.61)

1 Meter Diving: 2^nd–Alaina Laster (241.27)
6^th–Joelle Williams (180.96)

100 Freestyle: 2^nd–Darby Coles (53.14)
3^rd–Regan Raines (53.73)
6^th–Claire Kenney (55.23)
7^th–Raeleigh Mooij (x56.84)

200 Backstroke: 4^th–Or Tamir (2:11.80)
5^th–Alexis Wilhoit (2:14.17)
6^th–Mackenzie Rider (2:17.10)

200 Breaststroke: 1^st–Paige Banton (2:21.77)
3^rd–Audrey West (2:27.18)
4^th–Eszter Laban (2:27.31)
5^th–Grace Valenza (x2:34.62)

500 Freestyle: 3^rd–Adriana Abruzzino (5:19.87)
4^th–Gina Cantoral (5:21.00)
6^th–Naomee Miller (5:25.98)
7^th–Maria McGovern (x5:26.32)

100 Butterfly: 1^st–Klava Katayama (57.38)
2^nd–Nicole Rueff (58.02)
3^rd–Madeline Hart (58.16)
7^th–Grace Cox (x1:01.34)

200 Individual Medley: 2^nd–Eszter Laban (2:11.35)
3^rd–Paige Banton (2:12.85)
4^th–Audrey West (2:13.44)
6^th–Naomee Miller (x2:15.16)
—Grace Valenza (X2:14.11)

200 Freestyle Relay: 1^st–Claire Kenney, Klava Katayama, Madeline Hart, Darby Coles
(1:37.18)
3^rd–Alexis Wilhoit, Raeleigh Mooij, Regan Raines, Grace Cox
(1:38.88)
5^th–Adriana Abruzzino, Or Tamir, Maria McGovern, Mackenzie Rider
(x1:44.66)

UP NEXT

The Marshall University Women’s Swimming and Diving team will prepare for the Conference USA Championships that is scheduled for February 25-27 in Atlanta, Georgia.

More details to come at a later time.

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