Hickory, N.C. –Starting a new year with a dominating performance, Queens University of Charlotte men's swim team faced-off against Lenoir-Rhyne University on Friday, January 2, 2015, taking the meet 180-65. Queens rallied to take first place in the 13 events they competed in during the dual competition.
In commenting on the team's spectacular performance, Head Coach
Jeff Dugdale stated, "It was great to get back to racing today. It is nice to start the new year off with a couple of wins. We will use the rest of January to sharpen up and get ready for our conference me and NCAAs."
Starting with the 200 Medley Relay,
Zachary Phelps,
William Hicks, II,
Felipe de Oliveira, and
Evante Gibson, respectfully, took hold of the event with an electrifying 1:38.57 time.
Ian Shackley followed up for the Royals with a win in the 1000 Freestyle taking the event with a 10:13.74.
Kyle Kemp drove to the wall, taking second for the 1-2 Queens finish with a 10:16.70. The pair took the event by over 45 seconds with third place finishing to the wall at 11:04.69.
It was all Queens in the 200 Freestyle as
John Suther,
Jackson Kojima, and Shackley rounded the top three spots, with Suther's time of 1:47.61 taking the event. Kojima would finish with a 1:50.91 and Shackley with a 1:52.22 to give the Royals the 1-2-3 finish.
Phelps clocked a 54.61 in the 100 Backstroke as
Jay Stancliff finished second in the race touching with a 55.94.
It would be another Queens' event, this time in the 100 Breaststroke, as
Devyn Hughes and Hicks took the top two spots with a 1:00.83 and 1:01.29 time, respectfully. Both had over four seconds separating them from the Bears.
To add to the day, Oliveira held off Lenoir-Rhyne in the 200 Butterfly touching the wall with a 2:00.53 as Gibson reached the top of the 50 Freestyle with a 22.85 finish.
Suther's time of 48.79 and Kojima's 50.53 time grabbed hold of the 100 Freestyle as Queens took another 1-2 finish for the day. To partner with his first, Suther immediately took to the lanes for a second place finish (2:03.06) in the 200 Backstroke following teammate Phelps who took the event with a 2:00.45.
Queens closed out the 200 Breaststroke once again with the top two spots. Oliveira took first with a 2:13.47 and Hughes placed second touching in a 2:14.34.
With the meet nearing an end, Queens capped its last two events with spectacular performances in each. First with the 500 Freestyle, Kojima, Shackley, and Kemp, respectfully, dominated as Kojima took a 5:00.69, Shackley took a 5:02.86, and Kemp took a 5:04.78 for the race.
Queens concluded with the 200 Individual Medley as Oliveira touched with a 2:02.97 finish. Hughes followed with a 2:04.93 for second place.
The Royals continue their new year focus as they host St. Andrews University tomorrow in the Levine Aquatic Center at noon.
