Dukes swim past Blue Hens, Tigers

Meyers, Enders earn CAA weekly honors

After practicing twice a day for a week in Boca Raton, Fla., and defeating the University of Pennsylvania and Florida Atlantic University in a relay meet, the men's swim and dive team toppled the University of Delaware and Towson University Sunday.

The women's team lost to the Blue Hens and the Tigers after concluding its training trip in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The men beat Delaware 137-96 and Towson 127-101, while Delaware beat the JMU women's team 153-87 and Towson was victorious as well with a score of 164-76 over the women.

Standout swimmers of the meet included freshmen Joe Moore and Josh Fowler with their first collegiate wins. Moore won the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:04.02, while Fowler won the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:56.03.

Senior Geoff Meyer also experienced success as he was a double-event winner in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle. Seniors Mike Nicholas and Jeff Hicks, freshman John Chartier and sophomore RJ Dunn swept the 50-yard freestyle event.

Freshman diver Forrest Bassett and senior diver Dan Rotach each posted second place finishes with Bassett taking the 1-meter and Rotach the 3-meter.

On the women's side, sophomore diver Lisa Enders won both the 1-meter and 3-meter competition. Freshman Amber Jarvis posted a career-best in the 200 butterfly.

"Our investment is in the end of the season, rather than resting or cutting back for midseason meets," women's coach Nancy Bercaw said.

Freshman Allison Keel said, "I was tired and worn out from the practices that we did over break and the long bus rides. But, I think the training trip brought all of us closer together and really unified the team."

The training trip was a test of fitness levels. The days consisted of at least four hours in the pool, for a total of nearly 40 miles in six days, along with running and abdominal work.

"I guarantee that JMU women swam more yardage and did more difficult sets than anyone in the CAA conference over break," Bercaw said. "The future of the team is looking very good. I think they realize what they are capable of after the training trip — anything."

The women's team did, however, pick up a win against Westminster College while in Florida.

"I played lacrosse and basketball for years, but swimming is such a different sport," Chartier said. "It's definitely the most demanding. The intensity on the trip was high; our coach warned us we weren't going to Florida for a vacation … and he was absolutely right."

Enders, who won both diving events at the tri-meet, snagging the championship in the 1-meter and 3-meter competition. She was named Colonial Athletic Association Co-Performer of the Week for Jan. 5 to 11.

Meyer's performance also was awarded, as he was named the men's CAA Co-Swimmer of the week.

The men's team will face the University of North Carolina State Sunday, Jan. 18, and the women's next meet is at defending CAA champions, George Mason University, Friday.