Coleman Stewart’s Mom “Wasn’t Too Happy” About His WUGs-Inspired Tattoo (Video)

2020 ACC MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• When: Wednesday, February 26th to Saturday, February 29th Prelims 10:00 am | Finals 6:00 pm (1650 prelims Saturday at 4:00 pm)
• Where: Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina (Eastern Time Zone)
• Defending Champion: North Carolina State University (NC State) (29x, 5th-straight) (results)
• Streaming: ACC Network
  • Day 2 Finals
  • Day 3 Finals
  • Day 4 Finals
• Championship Central: Here
• Detailed Timeline: Here
• Psych Sheets: Here
• Live Results

Last summer, Coleman Stewart represented Team USA at the 2019 World University Games (WUGs) in Italy, where he won an individual bronze medal in the 100 butterfly (LCM). Following WUGs, Stewart got a tattoo on his right side: a diamond-shaped figure with imagery from the American flag filling out the interior. The diamond and flag blend Stewart’s allegiances to both NC State and the United States.

Though better known in the NCAA for his backstroke, Stewart ranks 8th all-time in the 100 SCY butterfly (and 5th among U.S. performers) and has backed up his short course prowess with impressive long course performances. Stewart will be among the favorites to win both the 100 fly and 100 back next month at the NCAA Championships, where he has now invested his focus.

Though competing at a high level throughout the college season is a difficult endeavor, Stewart’s accomplishments from last summer have stuck with him, without compromising his focus on NC State.

After being named the Most Valuable Swimmer of the meet for the second year in a row (in 2019 Stewart shared the honor with Georgia Tech’s Caio Pumputis), Stewart took a few minutes to speak to SwimSwam about how the experiences last summer have stayed with him to today.

Reported by Robert Gibbs.

200 BACK – FINALS

• ACC record: 1:38.56 – Hennesey Stuart (NC State), 2016
• ACC meet record: 1:39.05 – Grigory Tarasevich (Louisville), 2017
• 2019 champion: Coleman Stewart (NC State), 1:39.10

1. Coleman Stewart (NC State) – 1:37.71
2. Mitchell Whyte (Louisville) – 1:39.46
3. Samuel Tornqvist (Virginia Tech) – 1:40.10

NC State senior Coleman Stewart went out in style, taking down the ACC meet and conference records in the last individual ACC swim of his career. Stewart knocked nearly a second off of the overall conference record, a 1:38.56 held by NC State alum Hennesey Stuart. That’s the third-straight conference title in this event for Stewart, who has swept the backstrokes here over the last three years. Stewart’s time ranks his #3 in the nation this season.

Louisville’s Mitchell Whyte took 2nd to pair with his 2nd place finish in the 100 back. His time of 1:39.46 moves him to #4 in the nation this season. Whyte also took 2nd last season.

Virginia Tech’s Samuel Tornqvist took 3rd in 1:40.10, a new personal best by roughly half a second. Last year he was 5th with a 1:41.39. UVA’s Justin Grender (1:41.05) and Virginia Tech’s Lane Stone (1:41.88) took 4th and 5th. Notre Dame’s Jack Montesi (1:42.05) and UNC’s Christopher Thames (1:42.26) were also under 1:43. NC State freshman Ross Dant took 8th in 1:48.61, roughly ten minutes after taking 3rd in the 1650.

Read more about Stewart’s 200 backstroke here.

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS

1. NC State – 1250
2. Virginia – 1089
3. Louisville – 1066.5
4. Virginia Tech – 898
5. Florida State – 812.5
6. Notre Dame – 803.5
7. North Carolina – 630.5
8. Pitt – 520
9. Georgia Tech – 506
10. Duke – 421
11. Miami – 197
12. Boston College – 134

Reported by Braden Keith.

ALL-TIME TOP 10 PERFORMERS, MEN’S 200 YARD BACKSTROKE:

1. 1:35.73 – Ryan Murphy, Cal, 2016 NCAA Championships
2. 1:36.42 – John Shebat, Texas, 2019 NCAA Championships
3. 1:36.45 – Austin Katz, Texas, 2019 NCAA Championships
4. 1:36.81 – Ryan Lochte, Gator Swim Club – 2007 Winter Nationals
5. 1:37.20 – Shaine Casas, Texas A&M – 2020 SEC Championships
6. 1:37.58 – Tyler Clary, Michigan – 2009 NCAA Championships
7. 1:37.71 – Coleman Stewart, NC State – 2020 ACC Championships
8. 1:37.80 – Patrick Mulcare, USC – 2017 NCAA Championships
9. 1:37.87 – Arkady Vyatchanin, Russia – 2013 Winter Nationals
10. 1:38.21 – Eugene Godsoe, Stanford post-grad – 2012 OK Elite Meet