The North Carolina men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams defeated Queens University during their season opener in Charlotte Friday night.
What happened?
The women’s team won in dominant fashion by a score of 158-96, while the men’s team came out on top with a slightly smaller margin of victory for a score of 141-121.
UNC showed its strengths across the board with at least one Tar Heel finishing in the top three places for all but one event.
Who stood out?
Senior Grace Countie led the women’s team to victory during the meet, earning three first place finishes. Countie finished first in the women’s 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard free. She also led her relay team to win the women’s 200-yard medley relay.
Senior Lily Higgs was also part of the team that won the 200 women’s medley relay. Higgs had a strong night individually as well, finishing first in the 200-yard breaststroke and second in the 100-yard breaststroke.
First-year Greer Pattison began her college swimming career in style as she won two podium finishes of her own. She was a part of the 200 medley relay team that finished second, and she later proved her personal skills by finishing second to Countie in the 100-yard backstroke and second in the 200-yard backstroke.
On the men’s side, Valdas Abaliksta, a graduate student from Lithuania, won three first place finishes. He won the 200-yard breaststroke, 100-yard breaststroke, and led his team to a first place finish in the men’s 200 yard medley relay.