Durham, October 3, 2025
News Summary
Duke swim and dive launched its season successfully, achieving a perfect record at the quad meet, defeating teams from Boston College, Marymount, and East Carolina. Both the men’s and women’s teams secured impressive victories, highlighted by strong individual performances, including notable firsts in various events. The freshman debutants shined alongside seasoned athletes, contributing to the team’s winning momentum. Head coach praised the efforts and support from fans as the team looks to build on this promising start as they prepare for their next competition.
Durham—Duke swim and dive kicked off its 2025-26 season with an impressive performance at the quad meet held on October 2, 2025, at the Taishoff Aquatics Pavilion. The Blue Devils faced off against Boston College, Marymount’s men’s team, and East Carolina University’s women’s team, and emerged victorious with a 2-0 record for both the men’s and women’s teams for the first time since 2015.
The Duke men’s team triumphed with a score of 155-106 against Boston College and dominated Marymount with a remarkable 218-43 victory. Meanwhile, the Duke women’s team showcased their strength with a convincing 202-59 win over East Carolina and a resounding 207-54 defeat of Boston College. The team’s strong performance has set a positive tone for the season ahead.
Head coach Brian Barnes acknowledged the hard work the team put in leading up to the meet, highlighting the energy and effort displayed during the competition. The support from fans in attendance further contributed to the team’s morale, with enthusiastic cheers and chants echoing throughout the venue.
The women’s squad achieved a notable first and second place finish in the 200-yard medley relay, while the men’s teams also had a strong showing despite a first-leg disadvantage. The competition was tight, with the men’s B-relay narrowly edging Boston College by a mere 0.14 seconds.
Freshman Anderson Kopp made an impressive debut, completing the men’s 1000-yard freestyle in 9:29.74 and finishing just 0.22 seconds behind the first-place swimmer while maintaining a lead over the third competitor. The Duke women particularly excelled, sweeping three out of five events and finishing in the top three positions in the 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, and the 50-yard freestyle.
Senior Kaelyn Gridley won the 100-yard breaststroke while Martina Peroni emerged victorious in the 200-yard butterfly. Freshmen Charlie Kulp and Evan Tack also made their mark by winning their respective events in the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke. Established swimmers such as Jack Smith, Justin Wong, and Milo Shue delivered strong performances in breaststroke, butterfly, and sprint events respectively.
In the women’s 500-yard freestyle, senior Audrey Portello distinguished herself as the only female swimmer to complete the event in under five minutes, clocking in at 4:57.61. Justin Wong recorded a time of 49.41 in the 100-yard butterfly, while sophomore Kate Meyers-Labenz finished the 200-yard backstroke in impressive style with a time of 1:59.94. Freshman Raphael Wang won the 200-yard breaststroke, defeating junior Kalen Anbar, and rookie Heather White claimed victory in the women’s 100-yard butterfly with a time of 55.33.
Despite the successful outing, Coach Barnes noted areas for improvement, especially concerning speed, while emphasizing it was still early in the season. The meet served as a “baseline look at scoring potential” for the team.
The divers also had a strong showing, with Kiera Lu winning the 3-meter dive event. Charlie Berman and Tynan O’Donoghue secured the top two spots in the men’s 1-meter and men’s 3-meter events. Duke now heads into its third contest of the season with an undefeated record, scheduled to compete against Davidson at home on October 10 at 4 p.m., followed by a swimming meet at 5 p.m.
Key Performances
- Men’s Team: 155-106 win over Boston College; 218-43 victory against Marymount
- Women’s Team: 202-59 win over East Carolina; 207-54 victory against Boston College
- 1-2-3 finishes for women in 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, 50-yard freestyle
- Audrey Portello: 500-yard freestyle in under five minutes
- Justin Wong: 49.41 in the 100-yard butterfly
- Kiera Lu wins the 3-meter dive
Upcoming Events
Duke swim and dive will compete against Davidson at home on October 10 at 4 p.m., followed by a swimming meet at 5 p.m.
FAQ
When did Duke swim and dive open its 2025-26 season?
Duke swim and dive began its 2025-26 season with a quad meet on October 2, 2025.
What teams did Duke face in the quad meet?
The Blue Devils faced Boston College, Marymount’s men’s team, and East Carolina University’s women’s team.
What were the results of the Duke swim and dive team at the quad meet?
Duke achieved a 2-0 record for both the men’s and women’s teams for the first time since 2015.
Chart of Key Performances
| Event | Men’s Results | Women’s Results |
|---|---|---|
| 1000-Yard Freestyle | Anderson Kopp – 9:29.74 | |
| 200-Yard Freestyle | Charlie Kulp – Winner | 1st, 2nd, 3rd Finish |
| 100-Yard Backstroke | Evan Tack – Winner | 1st, 2nd, 3rd Finish |
| 100-Yard Breaststroke | Jack Smith – Winner | Kaelyn Gridley – Winner |
| 200-Yard Butterfly | Milo Shue – Winner | Martina Peroni – Winner |
| 500-Yard Freestyle | Audrey Portello – 4:57.61 |
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Additional Resources
- ECU Pirates: Women’s Swimming and Diving Visit Liberty for Two-Day Meet
- Wikipedia: Swimming
- Liberty Flames: Women’s Swimming & Diving Hosts ECU for Season Opener
- Google Search: swimming and diving season 2025
- Duke Chronicle: Duke Swim & Dive Meet Recap
- Google Scholar: women’s swimming diving performance
- ECU Pirates: Women’s Swimming and Diving Pirates Split in Season Opening Meets
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Swimming
- ECU Pirates: Women’s Swimming and Diving Pirates Visit Duke
- Google News: women’s swimming diving 2025
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