Duke swimming and diving wasted no time setting the tone for its 2026-27 season.
In Friday night’s opener at Davidson’s Cannon Poll, the Blue Devils rolled on both sides. Duke’s women put together a 246.5-53.5 win, while the men controlled the meet 193-106.
The women were perfect across the board, taking all 16 events. The men were just as sharp, winning 12 of 16.
The night started with a statement in the 200-medley relay. Duke took both races, with the women’s quartet of Ali Pfaff, Reese Reilly, Heather White and Riley Anderson stopping the clock at 1:42.54, more than two seconds clear of second place. The men followed with Ethan Bathala, Jack Smith, Yavuz Ömer Aga and Milo Shue going 1:31.42, while Duke also claimed second and third in the event.
Neala Klein delivered one of the strongest individual performances of the meet, winning the women’s 1000-yard freestyle in 10:23.84 and later adding the 200-yard butterfly in 2:06.13.
Freshman Quinn White made a smooth transition to college racing, taking first in the 200-yard freestyle at 1:52.27 and the 500-yard freestyle in 5:02.05. She also helped Duke’s second-place 4x100 yard freestyle relay.
On the men’s side, Ryan Griffith won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:42.27 and tied for first in the 100-yard freestyle with Owen Waibel at 46.91.
Pfaff piled up wins throughout the night. Along with her relay victory, she finished first in the 100-yard backstroke in 54.36, the 200-yard backstroke in 1:59.31 and the women’s 4x100 yard freestyle relay.
Reese Reilly was equally dominant in the breaststroke events, winning the 100 in 1:04.01 and the 200 in 2:18.73. Riley Anderson added victories in the 50-yard freestyle at 23.65 and the 100-yard butterfly at 55.08.
Raphael Wang won the 200-yard breaststroke by more than two seconds. In the 200-yard IM, freshman Charles Zuhoski separated himself from the field with a 1:52.86, more than three seconds ahead of second place.
Duke closed the meet by sweeping the 4x100 yard freestyle relays. The women’s group of Riley Anderson, Heather White, Clare Logan and Ali Pfaff finished in 3:24.98, nearly eight seconds in front. The men answered with Milo Shue, Owen Waibel, Ryan Griffith and Charlie Kulp taking the race in 3:04.31.
Duke returns to action on Friday, Oct. 16, when it heads to Chapel Hill to face North Carolina at 5 p.m.
In Other News...
Duke's Newcomers Already Created The Roster Battle Fans Wanted
Dukes annual Countdown to Craziness scrimmage did exactly what fans hoped it would do: create a little early-season noise around a roster that suddenly looks a lot more interesting. The white team edged the blue team 29-24, and the event offered a first real glimpse at a mix of newcomers who already seem ready to push for minutes. Freshman Deron Rippey Jr., Patrick Ngongba and transfer John Blackwell all flashed in ways that should only sharpen the competition heading into the season.
There will be some growing pains along the way, especially for freshmen like Joaqim Boumtje Boumtje and Cameron Williams, who are still adjusting to the speed and physicality of college basketball. But that is part of the appeal of this group, too. Duke wanted roster tension, internal pressure and a reason for fans to lean in early, and the scrimmage suggested the Blue Devils may have all three before October is even over. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Season Kickoff Hinted At Two Dangerous ACC Contenders
Dukes annual Countdown to Craziness did what it is supposed to do: turn an offseason showcase into an early look at a program that expects to matter. The men and women both got their moment in front of the Cameron crowd, with Jon Scheyer and Kara Lawson front and center as the school leaned into the kind of optimism that comes after recent NCAA tournament runs and enough returning buzz to make the ACC race feel very real.
The intrigue, though, is different on each side. Scheyers group looks built to be in the national conversation again, even if it does not have an obvious singular face yet, while Lawsons team arrives with a sharper edge after her latest international success with Team USA. Between the scrimmage flashes and the coach-driven confidence, Duke left the building looking less like a school opening a season and more like one with two teams already measuring themselves against the leagues best. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Fans Got Their First Real Clue About This Roster
Dukes annual Countdown to Craziness offered the first real look at this years group inside Cameron Indoor Stadium, with the Blue-White scrimmage giving fans a chance to size up the rotation and get a feel for how the pieces fit. It was the kind of early October snapshot that does not answer every question, but it does at least start to show which players are ready to make an impression before the games count.
The scrimmage had the usual mix of energy and experimentation, and the evening ended with Team White coming out on top in the Elam ending format, thanks to a three-pointer from Deron Rippey Jr. Duke will not have long to sit on the exhibition notes, either, with a scrimmage against Belmont coming up as the next opportunity to see whether the early flashes translate into something more reliable. [Read more 🡒]