2023 ACC SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Tuesday, February 14 to Saturday, February 18, 2023
- Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
- Defending Champions: Virginia (women); NC State (men)
- 2022 Results
- Full Event Schedule
- Championship Central
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- Live Streaming
Wake up everybody, college conference championship season is starting! And while Night 1 of the ACC Championships will feature a less-than-full schedule, it still promises to hold plenty of excitement for swim fans and frantic writing for SwimSwam writers.
The excitement should be begin in the women’s 200 medley relay. Last year the UVA women set the all-time record in this event at this meet, but NC State should have enough firepower to at least keep the Cavaliers honest. The NC State men swam one of the fastest times ever at NCAAs last year, while Louisville set the meet record in 2022.
We’re wondering if we may see UVA pull out all the stops and load up the 800 free relay, as that’s the only relay in which they don’t own the all-time mark. On the men’s side, it should be NC State’s race to lose, although the Cardinals normally bring their A-game for this relay as well.
As swim fans recover from some exciting racing, attention should turn the diving well, as the top eight finisher from the prelims of the women’s 3m and the men’s 1m events will compete for the individual title and all-important team points.
Women’s 200 Medley Relay – Timed Finals
NCAA Record: 1:31.81, Virginia – 2022 ACC ChampionshipsACC Record: 1:31.81, Virginia – 2022 ACC ChampionshipsACC Championship Record: 1:31.81, Virginia (2022)- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:36.24
Top 8:
- Virginia – 1:31.73
- NC State – 1:33.02
- Louisville – 1:34.23
- UNC – 1:34.70
- Duke – 1:36.31
- FSU – 1:36.61
- Pitt – 1:36.68
- Miami (FL) – 1:36.73
Well, that didn’t take long. Virginia broke all the records in just the second heat of the week, storming to a 1:31.73 in the 200 medley relay. Gretchen Walsh led off in 22.65, which appears to be the fastest 50 yard back ever. (Update: LSU’s Maggie MacNeil broke Walsh short-lived mark with a 22.52 later in the evening at the SEC Championships). Alex Walsh split 26.10 on breast, Lexi Cuomo went 22.49 on fly, and Kate Douglass anchored in 20.49, which is among the fastest 50 yard free splits ever.
NC State took 2nd in 1:33.02. Katharine Berkoff led off in 23.22, followed by Heather MacCausland with a 26.40 breast split. Kylee Alons provided a huge 21.99 fly split, the only leg on which the Wolfpack outsplit the Cavaliers. Abby Arens anchored in 21.41.
Louisville finished 3rd in 1:34.23, setting a new program record. The Cardinals had a big back half, as Christiana Regenauer split 22.56 on the fly leg, and Gabi Albiero anchored in 20.88. UNC took 4th in 1:34.70, highlighted by a 21.13 anchor leg by Grace Countie.
The rest of the top eight schools were all under the NCAA ‘B’ cut. Duke took 5th in 1:36.31. Florida State finished just 0.07s ahead of Pitt, 1:36.61 to 1:36.67. Miami got a big 26.31 breaststroke split from Tara Vovk to touch 8th overall in 1:36.73. Notre Dame (1:37.40), Virginia Tech (1:38.73), Georgia Tech (1:40.43), and Boston College (1:40.49) finished 9th-12th.
Men’s 200 Medley Relay – Timed Finals
- NCAA Record: 1:21.13, Florida – 2022 NCAA Championships
- ACC Record: 1:21.69, NC State – 2022 NCAA Championships
- ACC Championship Record: 1:21.84, Louisville (2022)
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:23.76
Top 8:
- NC State – 1:22.25
- Virginia – 1:23.03
- Louisville – 1:23.59
- Pitt – 1:23.98
- Notre Dame – 1:24.22
- Virginia Tech – 1:24.36
- UNC – 1:24.65
- FSU – 1:24.97
NC State safely reclaimed the event title after being DQ’d for an early takeoff last year. Kacper Stokowski led off in 20.70 after going 20.58 here last year. The Wolfpack had a huge improvement on breast, as Mason Hunter split 23.07, compared to Rafal Kusto’s 23.60 last year. Breaststroke has traditionally been a medley relay weakness for the Wolfpack, but Hunter’s time was the fastest of the night. Nyls Korstanje nearly duplicated his fly split, going 19.72 today for the fastest fly split of the evening after going 19.66 last year. Sophomore sprint star David Curtiss anchored in 18.76 tonight. Last year he was 18.04 on this relay, but drew the DQ for an early takeoff.
The Virginia Cavaliers moved up from 6th last year (1:24.59) to 2nd today (1:23.03). The big difference came on the backstroke leg, where Matt Brownstead led off in 21.12 after going 22.20 (apparently due to a split) here last year. Noah Nichols improved his breaststroke split to a 23.09 tonight, nearly matching Hunter. Max Edwards split 20.28 on fly, and August Lamb, subbing in for the absent Matt King, anchored in 18.54.
Louisville, last year’s champions, slipped to 3rd this year with a 1:23.59 after going 1:21.84 in their 2022 victory. Freshman Charlie Crush led off in 21.65, then Denis Petrashov split 23.29 on breast. Dalton Lowe, who memorably split 19.50 last year, went 20.06 tonight, then Abdelrahman Elarby anchored in 18.59.
Pitt improved by nearly a second compared to last year, taking 4th in 1:23.98, and appearing to have set a new school record. The big difference came on the backstroke leg, where Krzysztof Radziszewsk improved from 21.38 last year to 20.70 tonight, matching Stokowski’s time as the fastest in the field.
Notre Dame took 4th in 1:24.36, with Chris Guiliano anchoring in 18.41, the fastest in the field tonight. and Virginia Tech (1:24.36) was also under the NCAA ‘B’ cut, finishing 6th after going 1:22.82 for 2nd last year. UNC touched 7th in 1:24.65, followed by FSU at 1:24.97. Duke (1:25.58) and Georgia Tech (1:26.01) rounded out the top 10. Boston College touched in 1:28.16, but drew a DQ for an early takeoff on the first exchange.
Women’s 3m Diving – Finals
- ACC Record: 439.70, Abby Johnston (DUKE) – 2010 ACC Championships
- ACC Championship Record: 439.70, Abby Johnston (DUKE) – 2010 ACC Championships
Top 3:
- Aranza Vazquez (UNC) – 381.85
- Mia Vallee (Miami) – 367.20
- Emily Grund (UNC) – 350.90
UNC’s Aranza Vazquez reclaimed the 3m title after a one-year hiatus with a score of 381.85. Last year’s champion, Mia Vallee of Miami, took 2nd tonight with a score of 367.20. UNC pulled in big points in this event, as Vazquez, 3rd-place finisher Emily Grund, and Haley Marshall, who finished 7th, all took part in the championship final.
Women’s 800 Free Relay – Timed Finals
- NCAA Record: 6:45.91, Stanford – 2017 NCAA Championships
- ACC Record: 6:52.56, Virginia – 2021 NCAA Championships
- ACC Championship Record: 6:53.27, Virginia (2022)
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 7:00.86
Top 8:
- Virginia – 6:55.15
- Louisville – 6:57.51
- NC State – 6:59.22
- Virginia Tech – 7:00.97
- Duke – 7:05.18
- UNC – 7:08.66
- FSU – 7:10.79
- Georgia Tech – 7:11.03
It was a close race for the first three-quarters or so, but ultimately Virginia powered away for a 2+ second victory.
Reilly Tiltmann led off in 1:44.28, putting UVA in 4th after the first leg, but newcomer Aimee Canny split 1:42.79 on the second leg to put the Cavaliers in the lead. Another freshman, Claire Tuggle, split 1:44.78 on the third leg, and then Ella Nelson brought it home with a 1:43.30 anchor, good for a total time of 6:55.15. The Virginia women have now won this event at 16 consecutive ACC championships, dating back to 2008, the longest such streak in conference history. The Virginia men won 14-straight titles from 2000 through 2013, but haven’t won this event since.
Louisville was also in a bit of a hole early on after a 1:45.04 leadoff leg from Tristen Ulett. Paige Hetrick put the Cardinals into the thick of things with a 1:43.10 second leg, and Fernanda Gomes Celidonio kept close to Tuggle with a 1:44.91 split. Ella Welch anchored in 1:44.46, unable to hang with Nelson, but plenty able to maintain separation from the rest of the field, as the Cardinals took 2nd in 6:57.51.
Abbey Webb put NC State in 2nd after a 1:44.12 leadoff leg, then the Wolfpack faded a bit after Katherine Helms (1:45.62) and Sarah Watson (1:45.51). Annabel Crush, though, anchored in 1:44.07 to move the Wolfpack past Virginia Tech, touching 3rd in 6:59.22.
The Hokies just missed the NCAA ‘A’ cut, but they set a new school record as they finished 4th with a time of 7:00.97. Emma Atkinson led off with a 1:44.14, putting Virginia Tech in 3rd after the first 200 yards. Duke actually led after the first leg, thanks to a 1:43.94 from Sally Foley, and ultimately finished 5th in 7:05.18, under the NCAA ‘B’ cut.
Men’s 800 Free Relay – Timed Finals
- NCAA Record: 6:03.89, Texas – 2022 NCAA Championships
- ACC Record: 6:05.31 – 2018 NCAA Championships
- ACC Championship Record: 6:08.22, NC State (2022)
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 6:16.02
Top 8:
- NC State – 6:10.65
- Louisville – 6:11.26
- Virginia Tech – 6:14.86
- Notre Dame – 6:16.29
- UNC – 6:16.36
- Virginia – 6:16.62
- FSU – 6:17.12
- Pitt – 6:19.45
It was a wild, back-and-forth affair that ultimately came down the final strokes, but the Wolfpack men captured their third-straight title, and eighth the last ten years. NC State led off with Noah Bowers, who was sixth amongst the leadoff men with a 1:34.46. But former ACC individual 200 free champion Bartosz Piszczorowicz quickly helped put the team into third with a 1:31.98 split on the second leg. The defending 200 free champion, Luke Miller, moved into first place with a 1:31.65 split, and then Hunter Tapp held off Louisville anchor Michael Eastman with a 1:32.56 split, good for a 6:10.65 victory.
Louisville, the only school besides NC State to have won this relay in the last ten championships, were in second place after a 1:32.93 leadoff from Murilo Sartori. Denis Loktev split 1:33.21 on the second leg, and then freshman Guy Brooks (1:32.66) and veteran Michael Eastman (1:32.46) closed strong to finish in 6:11.26.
Luis Dominguez put Virginia Tech in the lead early with a 1:32.72 leadoff. Carles Coll Marti kept the Hokies in the lead with a 1:33.14 split on the second leg. Mario Molla Yanes (1:34.22) and Nico Garcia (1:34.78) could’t hold the lead, but they were able to do enough to put over a second between the Hokies, all of whom represent Spain internationally, and the remainder of the field, touching in 6:14.86.
Not long after dropping a 18.4 anchor leg on the medley relays, Chris Guiliano looked great for Notre Dame with a 1:33.43, setting a new personal best. Colton Paulson, who was the 2020 ACC 200 free champion while swimming for Louisville, went 1:34.23 on the second leg, and Notre Dame took 4th in 6:16.29, breaking the school record.
UNC finished just a hair behind with a 6:16.36, buoyed by a 1:32.03 split from Patrick Hussey. Virginia was in the mix through the first half, thanks to a 1:33.51 leadoff from Jack Aikins and a 1:33.09 second leg from Tim Connery, but the Cavaliers faded to sixth with at time of 6:16.62.
FSU (6:17.12) and Pitt (6:19.45) were also under the NCAA ‘B’ cut. Pitt broke a pair of school records as Marcin Goraj led off in 1:34.64 to set a new Panther record in the individual 200 free en route to a relay record as well. Georgia Tech got a 1:33.28 from 2021 ACC champ Baturalp Unlu, but ultimately finished ninth in 6:22.08, ahead of Duke (6:25.55) and Boston College (6:33.73).
Men’s 1m Diving – Finals
- ACC Record: 499.94, Nick McCrory (DUKE) – 2010 ACC Championships
- ACC Championship Record: 499.94, Nick McCrory (DUKE) – 2010 ACC Championships
Top 3:
- Max Flory (Miami) – 408.15
- Anton Down-Jenkins (UNC) – 395.75
- Renato Calderaro (NC State) – 374.35
Miami’s Max Flory captured his first ACC 1m title after winning the 3m last year. In doing so, Flory snapped the two year winning streak of Anton Down-Jenkins (UNC), who took 2nd tonight with a score of 395.75.
NC State hasn’t traditionally been known as a diving powerhouse, but freshman Renato Calderaro earned 3rd tonight with a score of 374.35, and two other Wolfpack men finished in the top 11.
Scores Through Day 1
Women
- North Carolina – 202
- Virginia – 166
- Louisville – 160
- NC State – 140
- Notre Dame – 126
- Florida State – 118
- Miami (FL) – 112
- Virginia Tech – 111
- Duke – 107
- Pitt – 84
- Georgia Tech – 76
- Boston College – 60
Men
- NC State – 196
- North Carolina – 147
- Notre Dame – 145
- Virginia Tech – 127
- Pitt – 133.5
- Louisville – 130.5
- Florida State – 115
- Virginia – 104
- Duke – 82
- Georgia Tech / Miami (FL) – 74
- (tie)
- Boston College – 32
Anyone see a link for watching prelims this (Wednesday) morning?!
Let’s go Tar Heels!!!!
Can someone explain the wide range of RT in medley relay? Can go from 0.6 to almost 1.0. Is it because of the backstroke ledges?
Alons is about to do something big. No one who goes that fast on a split doesn’t.
So now we have a Spanish record for the 800y free relay
sandpipers would’ve won that
I’m assuming David Curtis isn’t rested for this. Was hoping to see a better split than 18.7
Are sprinters ever not rested?
It makes sense for UVA to not stack the 800. The records are out of reach and trying to get close would mean either sacrificing taper schedule for Nelson/Tiltmann or going with a slower lineup in other relays at NCAA. You could move A. Walsh without a huge impact but they’d still need another piece (Douglass?).
The only realistic meet to get needed splits would be NCAA. Moving the extra piece (if one even exists) isn’t worth the potential historic times going down in other relays.
If they really wanted to challenge the record they would have had to do it at this meet. Best combo would have been Walsh, Walsh, Douglass and Canny. Would have screwed up all the other relays tho.
I think UVA goes for it big time at NCAAs
I could easily see this relay dropping another second per swimmer at NCAAs – or sub in Alex Wash and use Canny and Parker (along with G Walsh and Douglas) on the 400 – neither loses more than .5 from A Walsh.