Lucas Popp, a member of the White team, finished first, sparking a bellowing “U-N-C” chant from his side. The Blue team would not be outdone that easily, though. As two Blue team members took the next two spots, their teammates returned an even louder “U-N-C” chant.
The two sides would continue their back-and-forth for the rest of the match — a competition within the competition.
“We’re all very competitive,” junior Caroline Baldwin said. “No matter if it’s against each other or another team.”
The intrasquad meet had no record implications, but the swimmers treated it just like a regular-season matchup. Whether it was for loudest cheer or top spot in an event, the Tar Heel swimmers battled to best one another.
But Saturday’s meet was no different from the competition that goes on each day.
“We push each other,” senior Macey Arnold said. “We race during everything. We challenge each other in the weight room, on dry land, anything.”
The meet was yet another chance for the players to one-up one another, in and out of the pool. While that competition manifested in a cheering contest, the fun and games were over when it was time to hit the pool.
The players knew their fate going forward rested on beating their own teammates.