CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—The No. 5 Virginia women’s swimming and diving team looks to claim a ninth-consecutive ACC Championship this week (Feb. 17-20) at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C.
The Virginia men’s divers, including seniors Carl Buergler (Arlington, Va.), Jordan Sacks (Wilmette, Ill.) and Colby Shinholser (Burtonsville, Md.) and sophomore Jake Bowtell (Darien, Conn.), will compete as well in 1-meter, 3-meter and platform events.
ESPN3 will broadcast the finals on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Live results will be available at VirginiaSports.com.
The Cavaliers captured the 2015 ACC title with 1,308.5 points, 53.5 ahead of second-place North Carolina (1,255) and Virginia Tech (1,018) rounded out the top three. Virginia won three relays and five individual events, all by returning student-athletes, including senior Courtney Bartholomew (Holland, Mich.) in the 100 and 200-yard back, junior Leah Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa.) in the 200, 500 and 1,650 free and junior Laura Simon (Simmern, Germany) in the 200 breast.
Smith is currently ranked No. 1 in the country in the 500 and 1,650 free and fourth in the 200 free, while Bartholomew is No. 1 in the 100 and 200 back and No. 5 in the 200 IM. Junior Kaitlyn Jones (Newark, Del.) is currently No. 3 in the 200 IM and seventh in the 100 fly and 400 IM. Simon is seventh in the 100 breast and sophomore Jennifer Marrkand (Westport, Mass.) is eighth in the 200 back.
The action begins Wednesday with the women’s 1-meter prelims at 10 a.m., the men’s 3-meter prelims at 2 p.m. and the finals of both diving events along with the 200 medley relay and the 800 free relay starting at 4 p.m.
The meet will also signify the women’s swimming and diving matchup between Virginia and Virginia Tech in the Commonwealth Clash, sponsored by Virginia529, the official college savings plan of University of Virginia Athletics. There is one point at stake in the Virginia529 Commonwealth Clash, the point rivalry series between UVA and Virginia Tech. The school that finishes higher in the meet will receive a point in the competition. Virginia leads the 2015-16 Commonwealth Clash, 4-3.5. Learn more about Virginia529 and this competition at thecommonwealthclash.com.
Swimming news courtesy of Virginia Swimming & Diving.