The Duke women swimming and diving team secured a commanding victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday in Durham while the Yellow Jacket men claimed a decisive win on the road. The Blue Devil women celebrated their final home meet of the season with a 180.5 to 119.5 triumph as the men fell to the visitors by a score of 186 to 112.
Gridley and Wall Lead Strong Senior Day Performance
The atmosphere in Durham was electric as the Blue Devils looked to send their seniors out on a high note against a conference rival. Kaelyn Gridley delivered a standout performance in her final home appearance. She powered through the water to clock a time of 59.99 seconds in the 100 breaststroke. Breaking the one minute barrier gave the team a massive energy boost early in the meet.
Tatum Wall proved to be a force in the sprint freestyle events. She captured first place in the 50 freestyle with a quick 21.94 and returned to win the 100 freestyle in 47.94. Her speed was vital for the team points total. Wall also played a critical role in the relays. She anchored the winning 200 medley relay team and led off the victorious 400 freestyle relay squad.
The medley relay team set the tone for the entire afternoon. The quartet of Madelyn Meredith, Gridley, Heather White, and Wall combined for a time of 1:37.12. This opening win gave Duke momentum that they never relinquished on the women’s side.
Depth on Display for Blue Devil Women
Duke showcased impressive depth across various disciplines to keep Georgia Tech at bay. The distance and stroke specialists added crucial points to the board. Neala Klein showed great endurance to finish first in the 1000 freestyle with a time of 10:04.31. In the butterfly events, Martina Peroni touched the wall first in the 200 butterfly, clocking in at 1:56.75.
Audrey Portello had a fantastic afternoon for the home team. She won the 500 freestyle in comfortable fashion with a time of 4:52.67. Later in the meet, she displayed her versatility by winning the 200 individual medley in 2:02.04. This ability to score top points in different types of races helped Duke maintain their lead throughout the contest.
The relay teams capped off the meet with another strong showing. The 400 freestyle relay team of Wall, Clare Logan, Emily Gantriis, and White stopped the clock at 3:18.96 to seal the victory.
Key Event Winners for Duke Women:
- 200 Medley Relay: Meredith, Gridley, White, Wall (1:37.12)
- 100 Breaststroke: Kaelyn Gridley (59.99)
- 50 Freestyle: Tatum Wall (21.94)
- 1000 Freestyle: Neala Klein (10:04.31)
- Diving: Keira Lu (1 Meter and 3 Meter)
Georgia Tech Women Fight Back and Men Secure Win
Despite the loss on the women’s side, Georgia Tech had several bright spots and individual champions. Phoebe Wright was a double winner for the Yellow Jackets. She took the top spot in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:47.93 and later won the 200 backstroke in 1:54.71.
Vivian Rothwell added to the Georgia Tech point total by winning the 100 backstroke in 53.07. In the breaststroke events, Anne Deedy dominated the 200 yard distance with a winning time of 2:14.94. Zara Masud also contributed a win for the visitors by taking first in the 100 butterfly with a 54.07.
On the men’s side, Georgia Tech controlled the meet from start to finish. They defeated the Duke men 186 to 112. The split decision result highlights the competitive nature of ACC swimming as teams prepare for the conference championships.
Meet Score Summary
| Team | Women’s Score | Men’s Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 180.5 | 112 | Women Win / Men Loss |
| Georgia Tech | 119.5 | 186 | Women Loss / Men Win |
Diving Sweep Completes the Day
The diving well was another area where Duke excelled on Saturday. Keira Lu put on a clinic on the springboards. She swept both events to maximize the points for the Blue Devils.
Lu started with a victory on the 1 meter board, scoring 313.35 points. She followed that up with an even more impressive performance on the 3 meter board, earning a score of 362.55. Her consistency was a key factor in the wide margin of victory for the women’s team.
This meet serves as a significant confidence builder for the Duke women as they look toward the postseason. We want to hear your thoughts on these performances. Please share this article on social media and leave a comment below about which swim impressed you the most.
