Opening splash
JMU wins all 11 events in first home meet
By Tim Chapman, contributing writer
Posted on October 30, 2006

Prepping for a Colonial Athletic Association opener at George Mason Saturday, the JMU men’s swim team took to the pool Friday night against Virginia Military Institute. Despite facing an under-matched opponent in the Keydets, Madison swam with a chip on the shoulder and a focus to win every event.

“The Title IX decision has got them fired up and committed to making this the best season ever,” JMU coach Chris Feaster said. “We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

The Dukes are going into the season still looking to fight the university’s decision that will cut their program, as well as nine other sports at JMU, come July. The team is practicing at the maximum allowed hours of 20 per week and Feaster has each member swimming at a peak yardage of 50,000. 

“I am a tough coach and they accept that,” Feaster said. “They understand that we will swim fast all year and, with this training, we still will at the end of the season.”

Against VMI, the atmosphere was as energetic as a conference meet and the results showed. The Dukes won all 11 events and saw numerous personal bests from the freshmen and sophomores, many of whom were swimming off-events. In the 1,000-yard freestyle, sophomore Tom Martin swam a team and personal best as he won the event.  Later, Martin won the 100-yard backstroke.

“Coach has been pushing us hard and we have a lot to prove,” Martin said. “The energy at the start of the meet carried over as we swam fast times, which kept the team fired up.”

Junior Brian Freitag usually competes in breaststroke, but swam a personal record in the 100-yard butterfly. Freitag also helped the team in his team-best butterfly split in the 200-yard individual medley.

“After my relay time, I was excited and knew after that I could expect to swim well,” Freitag said.

Freitag looked at the meet as an important learning experience for the younger swimmers.

“It’s good for them to get in and get an idea of where they’re at and where they’ll be tomorrow,” Freitag said. “To have your first home meet as a fun one is important.”

The most competitive event of the evening saw sophomore Jacob Tschohl and freshmen Clay Downey finish 12 hundredths apart in the 500-yard freestyle. Downey, who is predominantly placed in butterfly events, beat out his teammate while swimming a personal best of his own.

“I knew where he was the entire time and I know how he races,” Downey said. “We all kind of pushed each other and it helps to know everyone is behind you.”

The dive team was also in action, as junior Kyle Knott dove uncontested in the three-meter, springboard.

Results and times for the swim meets against VMI and George Mason were not released prior to publication.