Queens University of Charlotte rose to the challenge on Thursday, October 9, 2014, as they raced against the Volunteers from the University of Tennessee and Team Elite, an elite swim program located in the Charlotte, N.C. area. Caroline Arakelian would have a pool shattering race, taking first in the 200 Yard Backstroke. The Royals would also have three swims fall under the NCAA ‘B’ qualifying mark.
The University of Tennessee would take the meet 139-45 but Queens would have several top performances on the night and improvement in almost every event.
Lillian Gordy would start the Royals off, swooping in under the NCAA ‘B’ Standard for the 200 Yard Freestyle and a fifth place finish in her 1:53.30 race. She would drop over three seconds from her previous week’s performance of 1:56.25 at the All-N.C. Meet in Greensboro, N.C., on October 4.
Arakelian would come just shy of a first place finish as she flew through the pool for a 2:03.03 time and a second place finish in the 200 Yard Individual Medley. Her swim for the 200 Yard Individual Medley would land her a NCAA ‘B’ Standard qualification.
Arakelian would follow that performance with a first place finish and a new pool record in her next event up, the 200 Yard Backstroke. Her 1:58.66 time launched out ahead of the competition and placed her well under the NCAA ‘B’ mark for the event.
“It makes me, as a coach, feel good because we have three main goals for this year: be the fastest off the starts, be the fastest in and out of the turns, and to be the fastest underwater,” said Head Swim Coach Jeff Dugdale on this team’s performance for the night. “So, I think we are moving and progressing in that way. It was really good to watch Caroline (Arakelian) and Matthew (Josa) move up and to see Ben Taylor have very close races, and Nic Arakelian as well. I do think that the important thing to take away from this meet is, we were better than last Saturday and we continue learn and get better and never taking our focus off the NCAA Championships.”
The Royals will take to the blocks again in a dual matchup against Gardner-Webb University on Friday, October 24, at the Levine Aquatic Center.
Queens University of Charlotte took to the lanes in their first home meet of the season, competing against the University of Tennessee and Team Elite (a competitive swim program located in Charlotte, N.C. area) on Thursday, October 9, 2014. Matthew Josa and Niclas Eriksson both had top level performances to add to a great night for the Royals, who saw four different swims qualify under the NCAA ‘B’ Standard mark.
The Royals had a strong performance in their dual meet, opening with a second place finish in the 200 Yard Individual Medley Relay. Josa, Eriksson, Evante Gibson, and Hayden Kosater, respectfully, flew down the lane clocking a 1:31.02 for the event and falling under the NCAA ‘B’ Standard time.
The University of Tennessee would take first in the meet with a 157 points, but Queens (who had 65 points) would have several spectacular races as they saw personal bests and new records across the board.
Nick Arakelian would provide an exceptional Royals representation in the 1000 Yard Freestyle as he out touched Ben Miller of Tennessee for a third place finish. Arakelian would finish with a 9:23.17 for an NCAA ‘B’ Standard performance.
In the 200 Yard Individual Medley, Josa would soar off the blocks to give Queens a first place finish. He would gain over three seconds of separation to take the race with a time of 1:47.59. His swim would also qualify him for another NCAA ‘B’ performance.
Kosater would touch for a second place finish in the 100 Yard Freestyle clocking a time of 46.67. This would trump his of 47.23 the week prior in the All-N.C. Meet in Greensboro, N.C.
Josa would have another top tier race, going 1:48.30 in the 200 Yard Backstroke for a second place finish.
Arakelian would grab his third NCAA ‘B’ Standard swim for the night with a lightning performance in the 500 Yard Freestyle, touching with a 4:36.73.
Eriksson would help conclude the Royals night as he took-off in the 200 Yard Breaststroke. He would set a new pool record with a 2:02.83 finish and a first place performance. He would drop over four seconds off his time from the All-N.C Meet in Greensboro, N.C. on October 4, 2014.
“It makes me, as a coach, feel good because we have three main goals for this year: be the fastest off the starts, be the fastest in and out of the turns, and to be the fastest underwater,” said Head Swim Coach Jeff Dugdale on his team’s performance for the night. “So, I think we are moving and progressing in that way. It was really good to watch Caroline (Arakelian) and Matthew (Josa) move up and to see Ben Taylor have very close races, and Nic Arakelian as well. I do think that the important thing to take away from this meet is, we were better than last Saturday and we continue to learn and get better and never take our focus off the NCAA Championships.”
The Royals will take to the blocks again in a dual matchup against Gardner-Webb University on Friday, October 24, at the Levine Aquatic Center.
