Dukes vs. Villanova: Wrestling Recap & Results

dukes Fall to Villanova in Saturday Swim & Dive Competition

James Madison University’s swim & dive team faced a tough challenge on Saturday, falling to Villanova 186-113 at the Villanova Swim complex. Despite the overall team result, the Dukes showcased individual brilliance, securing five event wins and demonstrating promising depth across multiple disciplines.

The Dukes’ performance was highlighted by a dominant showing in diving events. Senior Maddie O’Mera delivered a standout performance on the 3-meter board, achieving a score of 303.75 to claim first place.”O’Mera continues to be a consistent force for us,” a team spokesperson noted. Redshirt junior Natalie Jones closely followed in second with a score of 275.48.The team continued its success on the 1-meter board, sweeping the top three spots with Jones (267.38) and O’mera (262.35) taking first and second,respectively,followed by sophomore Emma LaFountain (257.03).

Did you know? – Diving events for Senior Day are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., followed by swimming at noon. This meet served as a key competition before the upcoming conference championships.

In the pool, sophomore Madison Wimmer and senior Alex Volk each secured individual victories. Wimmer touched the wall first in the 200 Free with a time of 1:52.49, and also finished second in the 500 Free, clocking in at 5:03.59. Volk claimed the top spot in the 100 free, finishing in 52.19, and secured second place in the 50 Free with a time of 24.17.

The Dukes demonstrated impressive depth,consistently placing athletes in the top three. Freshmen made their mark, with Maria Costa (57.87) and Emma Durham (57.91) taking second and third in the 100 Backstroke.Freshman Emma Dougherty finished second in the 100 Breaststroke (1:05.98), closely followed by junior Riley Bridgman (1:06.48). Senior Jamie Cornwell posted a strong time of 23.97 in the 50 Free, finishing ahead of Volk. additional notable performances included a second-place finish from sophomore Maddy Coombs in the 200 Fly (2:04.95) and a third-place finish in the 200 IM by Bridgman (2:08.50).

Pro tip – Swimmers often focus on “splits” – the time for each 50 or 100 meters – to analyze their performance and identify areas for improvement during a race.

The meet concluded with a decisive victory for JMU in the 400 Free Relay. The team of Wimmer, freshman Emory HillVolk, and Cornwell combined for a winning time of 3:27.71. the Dukes also showed strength in the medley relays, with the team of senior Sarah PauleyDougherty, senior Ann Chappell Ellington, and Wimmer finishing second in the 200 Medley Relay (1:46.43).

Looking ahead, the Dukes will use the lessons learned from this competition to prepare for their next challenge. Villanova secured the win with a final score of 186-113. The Dukes’ strong individual performances and emerging freshman talent offer a positive outlook for the remainder of the season. The team aims to build on this foundation and achieve success in upcoming meets.

Reader question – What do you think was the biggest factor