Hickory, N.C. –  Queens University of Charlotte women's swim team started the new year with a 194-54 win over Lenoir-Rhyne on Friday, January 2, 2015, as the Royals did not concede a single event to the Bears in the dual match-up. Even though the competition against UNC-Asheville was held as an exhibition, the Royals saw eight overall first place finishes for the day.   

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."

The Royals started the 2015 year off with a win in the 200 Medley Relay hoisting Hannah Peiffer, Emma Durante, Madeleine Wallmon, and Kristina Kosloski, respectfully, to the top of the event. The group put together a 1:50.72 for the fastest time of the day.

Caroline Arakelian's time of 10:43.48 garnered a first place finish for the 1000 Freestyle. McKenzie Stevens followed this up with a first place finish in the 200 Freestyle touching with a 1:59.27.

Looking to the 100 Backstroke, Queens took a 1-2 finish as Kristin Diemer drove to the wall with a 1:01.92 and Kristina Kosloski grabbed a 1:02.41.

Peiffer and Linda Baron emerged victories in the 200 Butterfly as Peiffer sat atop with a 2:13.73. Baron followed reaching the wall at 2:15.68.

Kosloski found her way to the wall first in the 200 Backstroke reaching for a time of 2:12.23 as Arakelian dominated the 200 Breaststroke finish seven seconds faster than her competition with a 2:27.63.  

Wallmon's performance in the 100 Butterfly landed her first for the day while taking a 1:1.61 for the event. Arakelian followed this up for the last individual first place finish of the day in the 200 Individual Medley clocking a 2:11.75. She would be 10 seconds faster than the pool.

The Royals concluded the day with the overall finish in the 200 Freestyle Relay clocking a 1:40.19 with Diemer, Arakelian, Kosloski, and Peiffer, respectfully, taking the pool. However, Emily Bozant, Stevens, Leigh Siegfried, and Hannah Veale, respectfully, gave Queens a 1-2 finish with their powering 1:45.51 time.

Although the two teams did not face off, UNC-Asheville's Alessandra Troncoso found the wall first in the 100 Breaststroke as Durante nudged into second place with a 1:10.39. UNC-Asheville also found first in the 50 Freestyle but Queens took the next three touches with Veale (25.89), Diemer (25.89), and Bozant (25.92), respectfully, soaring through the water.

Again not competing against the school, Wallmon finished second behind Alexandra Van Dorsten of UNC-Asheville to give Queens the points in the 100 Freestyle with a time of 57.05. Braelyn Tracy also took second in the 500 Freestyle behind UNC-Asheville with a 5:19.38 to give Queens the race in their dual match against the Bears.

The Royals continue their new year focus as they host St. Andrews University tomorrow in the Levine Aquatic Center at noon.