Bittersweet ending
Dukes take down Monarchs of ODU in final home meet
By Tim Chapman, staff writer
Posted on January 22, 2007

One would think that the signs adorning the walls of Savage Natatorium Saturday afternoon at the men’s and women’s dual meets against Old Dominion University would have been made solely by the Madison swimmers. But three large signs reading “JMU men’s swimming and diving,” “9X CAA champs,” and “legends live forever,” weren’t made by the 30 to 40 swimming alumni, the women’s team or even the parents.

It was the opposing Monarchs of ODU that made the signs.

The gesture was an indication of not only the great sportsmanship exhibited in Colonial Athletic Association swimming, but the support in the sport’s community for the recently cut team.

Madison didn’t disappoint the senior-day, sell-out crowd as they won by a score of 166-132. Seniors Josh Fowler, Mitch Dalton and John Chartier anchored the relay with the fastest split of the race at 20.33 seconds as his team won in 1:33.86.

“We were swimming beyond what we were capable of,” Fowler said. “But the noise, the people and the energy really carried us through the meet.”

Fowler was among the five seniors who all swam season-bests.

“That was incredible for me,” Fowler said. “Three out of four swims were my best ever. It was a great senior meet and winning — it’s just icing on the cake.”

JMU was able to outlast its opponents by scoring points late in the meet. With four races remaining, the Dukes held on to a slim 124-100 advantage. The turning point came when they swept the Monarchs by placing first, second and third in the 200-individual medley. Junior Brian Freitag won the race in 1:55.36, senior Mitch Dalton took second and senior Steven Evans was able to stave off ODU’s Daniel Gallagher by .51 seconds to complete the sweep.

“We knew that it’d be the last individual event swam here,” Freitag said. “And we didn’t want to go out on a losing note.”

The energy was contagious as the women’s swimming team also took care of business, earning their first victory of the year 171.5-128.5.

Senior Allison Keel won the opening race for the Dukes and added three more victories on the day against ODU. Freshman Amanda Hauck also picked up four wins. Both won two individual races and helped JMU win two relays.

“It’s really important,” Keel said of winning early. “Winning the first race of the meet really helps with the morale of the team.”

She added: “All the emotion of the meet and it being my last meet [factored into my performance].”

For the men’s team, it was technically senior night for every swimmer.

JMU head coach Chris Feaster credited his team for staying focused throughout the season even with all of the distractions surrounding the school’s Title IX decision.

“When the decision came out, they were maybe down for the afternoon,” Feaster said. “But they haven’t forgotten the season goal of winning the conference.”

During a standing ovation, prior to the last race, chants of J-M-U filled the building and helped propel the Dukes to finish second through fifth in the 400-freestyle medley.

Aaron Wellman (‘98) and Paul Oehling (‘00) stood among the spirited alumni for the last men’s swimming meet at JMU.

“We won the conference meet every year I was here, and they are missing their foresight,” Wellman said of the university and its decision.

Oehling shared a similar sentiment during the bittersweet day.

“Swimming has been the most successful [of the] sports [at JMU], Oehling said. “It’s built up such a tradition. They’ll never get a dollar from me.”