There were three races left in Saturday’s dual meet against the Navy Midshipmen. The North Carolina men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams were each well on their way to securing 177-118 and 194-97 victories in the first meet of the new year when everything was brought to an abrupt halt.
A tornado warning had been issued and the meet would undergo a delay. Swimmers, coaches and fans were instructed to proceed to the locker rooms and lower level hallway where they would wait out the storm.
A weather delay was possibly the last thing anyone expected at the indoor event, and coach Rich DeSelm said he was caught off-guard.
“I looked outside once and it was kind of clear, and the next time I looked out the wind was blowing, the rain was going sideways and we were hunkered down underneath the gallery,” DeSelm said.
But even the weather couldn’t dampen the Tar Heels’ performance, as they finished in first place in all three of the remaining races.
UNC’s success correlated with the high energy both the men’s and women’s teams displayed. From the moment each team huddled up before the race — chanting at the top of their lungs — to the moment at the end of the meet when the women’s team belted out “Hark The Sound” and the men’s team clapped along, there was never a lapse in enthusiasm.
Senior Stephanie Peacock, whose first place finishes in the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle contributed to the women’s team sweeping the podium in all 16 events, said the encouragement provided by her teammates throughout the meet played a pivotal role in the team’s success.
“Yesterday, we had a team meeting and talked about how getting behind your teammates really pumps them up,” Peacock said. “I think, today, that was our focus — trying to be behind our teammates and forcing positivity their way.”
The men’s team was able to clinch first place finishes in 12 of 16 events in its first meet since the Nike Cup — an almost two-month hiatus. The team also endured a rigorous Christmas training regimen.
