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Pool or no pool, UNC puts up fight against Georgia

After a 10-hour drive to Athens, Georgia, that was only supposed to take five, the North Carolina swimming and diving team prepared for its first dual meet of the season.

In Saturday’s meet against Georgia at Gabrielsen Natatorium, the women’s swimming and diving team finished four points away, 152-148, from obtaining a victory and snapping Georgia’s 20-year home win streak. 

Junior Hellen Moffitt took first place in both the 200-yard medley relay and 100-yard backstroke. She also took second in the 200-yard backstroke and set career bests for both the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard backstroke. 

The men suffered a close loss as well, with a score of Georgia 170, UNC 125. 

“Going into the meet, I was really excited and had the right mindset,” said junior Jack Nyquist, the current one-meter dive record holder for UNC. 

For the past several weeks, UNC’s swimming and diving team has been practicing in various locations because of a filter replacement at its home pool. 

“The outdoor pool we practice at can get pretty cold and crowded, but none of the swimmers have complained,” Coach Rich DeSelm said. 

DeSelm said the practice conditions haven't been ideal, but the team has held together.  

“The adversity has helped our team come together and it really shows that our team can overcome any challenge,” Moffitt said.

With the pool on its way to being fixed and Athens in the rear view mirror, the team is ready to face the next challenge.

Quotable

“We had our opportunities to win with a tie. The outcome, though disappointing, was very positive for our women’s team.” — DeSelm on how he felt about the women’s close win.

Notable

Nyquist said the pool will be back at the UNC’s swimming and diving team’s disposal within the next week or two. 

Three numbers that matter

94: UNC’s women’s team was four points away from erasing Georgia’s 94 dual or tri meet winning streak at home. 

445.73: David MacDonald holds the record for the three-meter board at 447.5, but Nyquist came close to breaking the record at the meet on Saturday with a score of 445.73. 

13: The number of first-place spots won by both the UNC men and women. 

What’s next?

UNC travels to Bloomington, Indiana, for a meet with Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana at 2 p.m. on Oct. 30. 

@junabug

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