Claire Murray | The Duquesne Duke
On Saturday, the Duquesne women’s swim team defeated Youngstown University 149-108 at the Tower’s Pool. The team placed first in 11 of the 14 events.
According to head coach Dave Sheets Youngstown lacked the depth needed to compete with the Dukes.
“The biggest thing I contribute to the win was that we were definitely the better team,” Sheets said. “Youngstown had a couple good swimmers, but they just didn’t have the depth that we had. Our better swimmers stepped up and won the events that we should have won. Our depth swimmers did what they needed to do to get us more points.”
The Dukes opened the meet by taking first place in the 400 yard medley in 3:57.48 with a team of Morgan Fink, Sam Ray, Miriam McGeath, and Meghan Smith. Duquesne continued their streak as Claire Nobles took first in the 1000 yard freestyle in 10:54.83 and Nicole Bruneel won in the 200 yard freestyle in 1:56.64.
Other first place finishers for the Dukes included Miriam McGeath in the 500 yard freestyle and Lillian Nelson in the 200 yard breaststroke. Meghan Smith also won the 100 yard breaststroke and took an impressive victory in the 50 yard freestyle in 25.14.
Sheets commended all of the swimmers for working together to achieve the win.
“It was really a team effort. That’s one thing that really separates this team from any teams that we’ve had in the past. Everybody in every event is contributing,” Sheets said.
Junior Line Lovberg also highlighted the team’s improvement, as well as the close relationship among the swimmers.
“I think our team is better this year than last year because we all cheer for each other. It’s a more positive atmosphere at meets and we all do our best,” Lovberg said. “Even when we swim against a team that is not as good, we still do our best and race the clock. When we swim against a team that’s better than us, we still fight to the end,”
Lovberg finished first in the 200 yard butterfly and also won the 100 yard butterfly in 58.18, her best time this season.
According to sophomore Kylie Dickman, Sheets used this meet to let the women compete in events that they do not normally swim.
“I never do the 100 fly. I’m usually not in the relays. The only event I usually do is the 200 fly. I love meets like that. It’s a chance to get up and swim fast in events that you don’t usually do. It’s not as stressful,” Dickman said. “Even in our off events, everyone did really well. It shows that everyone is ready to go for the conference meet.”
The Atlantic 10 conference championship meet will be held in February, but the Dukes train for approaching meets.
“We really try to focus on what’s directly in front of us,” Sheets said. “We’ve got the Cleveland State Invite in two weeks. That’s good for the freshmen because it’s a three day meet with prelims then finals, and it really compels them to get used to what their bodies are going to deal with at the conference championship meet.”
During the first week of December, Lovberg and Dickman will be joined by Meghan Smith to represent the Dukes at the U.S. National Conference meet in Knoxville, Tenn.
Other swimmers will have a chance to qualify for the national meet when the Dukes travel to the Cleveland State Invite on Nov 22.
