The Queens University of Charlotte men's and women's swim teams continued their strong showing at the NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships on Friday, March 10, 2017. The men's team snapped two national records as they extended their hold on the first place ranking while the women's team continued to add points to their top standing.
"Another ferocious fight tonight that resulted in our women moving up in their seeds," said Head Coach Jeff Dugdale. "Swimming in the very competitive BMC (Bluegrass Mountain Conference) has prepared us for these battles. Our men continue to thrive here in Birmingham. [I am] Proud of Marius (Kusch) for breaking former Royal Matt Josa's 200 fly record. Great to keep it in the family. Then to see the guys turn around and shatter the NCAA Record (800 yard freestyle relay), again held by Queens, was awesome. A very special thank you to our parents, administration, alumna, and friends for showing up in Birmingham in a big way to support our efforts. I believe in Queens and love it."
The men's team concluded the third day of competition with 450.5 points, ahead of Drury in second with 276. Nova Southeastern moved into third place with 214 points.
On the women's side, Queens held control of the top spot taking 349 points to post ahead of Drury with 305. Wingate secured the third overall team ranking with 253 points.
Continuing to set records, Marius Kusch broke the men's 200 yard butterfly NCAA record, held by Queens since 2015, taking a 1:42.04 for the new time. His swim put him at a two-second gap over the competition.
The team added another national record in the men's 800 yard freestyle relay, shattering the previous time by five seconds. Dion Dreesens, Paul Pijulet, Kusch, and Nicholas Arakelian, respectively, flew through the pool to capture a 6:18.46 for the event.
Pijulet claimed another national title, his fifth of the week, taking the top touch in the men's 100 yard backstroke. His swim of 46.58 also qualified as a new school record.
In the 500 yard freestyle, Dreesens raced into the wall for a 4:19.45 second-place finish. Arakelian followed with a time of 4:26.61, for sixth.
The women's 800 yard freestyle relay team of McKenzie Stevens, Josefina Lorda-Taylor, Georgia Dacruz, and Linda Baron, respectively, earned a silver medal reaching the wall with a time of 7:18.75.
Hannah Peiffer found a bronze medal in the 100 yard backstroke (53.91) while Stevens added a bronze in the women's 200 yard butterfly (1:59.31). Lorda-Taylor secured fifth in the 200 yard butterfly (2:00.51) to give Queens another swimmer in the top heat.
Rostyslav Fedyna won the bronze medal in the men's 100 yard breaststroke (53.30) as Zach Bunner secured a fifth-place swim in the men's 100 yard backstroke, reaching the wall with a 47.23.
In the women's 100 yard breaststroke, Shelly Prayson clocked a 1:02.25 for seventh place.
The Royals head into the last day of the meet as the top team on both sides of the competition.
