2019 ACC Women’s Championships: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

by Robert Gibbs 45

February 23rd, 2019 ACC, News

2019 ACC WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS

Coming out of this morning, it looked like UVA still had a shot at taking the title, if everything broke their way. However, they only had two divers score in the diving prelims, while NC State put one diver into the A-final and got another two scorers. The upshot is that while it’s still provably mathematically possible for UVA to win, NC State should continue to build on their 18 point lead and win by 50-100 points.

Even setting aside the battle for team points, we should be in for an evening of great racing. Other than the 1650s, each of tonight’s individual events will feature the defending champion.

The 200 back will be largely a contest between UVA and NC State. The Cavaliers have four women in thh A-final, led by Megan Moroney, who had the fastest time this morning, and defending champion Paige Madden. But the Wolfpack will be there in force, as well, and as both Elise Haan and Emma Muzzy have have 1:51s to their name, this could very well come down to four women at the finish.

Mallory Comerford will be swimming in lane four tonight as she defends her title in the 100 free. She was 47.78 this morning, and has been 46.77 this season, so why we may not see her dip below her personal best (and ACC record) of 46.20, she could challenge the meet record of 46.65.

NC State freshman Sophie Hansson put up the fastest time this morning in the 200 breast, touching in 2:07.97. She won last night, and she has a good chance of repeating tonight, although the field also includes defending champ Mariia Astashkina of Louisville.

Just like her teammate Comerford, Grace Oglesby is both the defending champion and the fastest qualifier from this morning in the 200 fly. Again, like Comerford, she probably’s a little more separated from the field than than Moroney, but watch for NC State freshman Kylee Alons, who was dropping time throughout the regular season.

1650

  1. Tamila Holub (NC State) – 15:56.91
  2. Anna Jahns (NC State) – 15:56.96
  3. Makayla Sargent (NC State) – 16:06.58

In what should pretty well seal NC State’s victory, the Wolfpack women in the final heat swept the top three overall sports. Sophomore Tamila Holub took gold on the strength of a 15:56.91 that’s three seconds faster than she went here last year. In an unusually close finish in such a long event, senior Anna Johns finished only 0.05s behind Holub. Taking into account results from SECs and Big Tens, those times look to be the 6th and 7th fastest times in the country this year. NC State also got 3rd and 5th finishes from Makayla Sargent and Ariel Finke, respectively.

The other half of the top eight came from four different schools. Louisville’s Sophie Cattermole finished 4th in 16:07.90, and UNC’s Robyn Dryer, Notre Dame’s Sinead Eksteen, and Georgia Tech’s Emily Ilgenfritz round out the top eight. According to the SWIMS database, that was a 12-second personal best for Eksteen, whose previous best time of 16:30.93 came from 2014, when she was only 13 years old.

200 Back Finals

  1. Emma Muzzy (NC State) – 1:51.66
  2. Megan Moroney (UVA) – 1:51.98
  3. Emma Seiberlich (UVA) – 1:52.54

NC State freshman Emma Muzzy ran down UVA’s Megan Moroney on the final few strokes, surged ahead at the finish, and touched in 1:51.66 to take the victory. Moroney was in the lead at the halfway point, and appeared to have the event sewed up after splitting 28.00 on the 3rd leg, but she faded to a 29.88 on the final 50 while Muzzy closed in 28.30. UVA swept the next three spots, with Moroney touching 2nd in 1:51.98, and Emma Seiberlich taking 3rd in 1:52.54.

100 Free Finals

  1. Mallory Comerford (Louisville) – 46.57
  2. Morgan Hill (UVA) – 47.46
  3. Ky-lee Perry (NC State) – 47.50

Mallory Comerford took down her own meet record in her final individual swim of her ACC career. Comerford looked to be in control the entire race and touched in 46.57, knocking 0.08s off her meet record of 46.65 from last year.

NC State’s Ky-lee Perry was in 2nd after the first 50, but UVA’s Morgan Hill reeled Perry in by splitting 24.56 to 25.08 over the second half the race, and touching in 47.46 to Perry’s 47.50.

The team standings look to be pretty well solidified at his point. NC State has a 77 point lead over Virginia that’s essentially insurmountable at this point, barring a relay disqualification (and even that might not be enough). Louisville and Notre Dame are locked into 3rd and 4th, respectively. There’s a chance that Florida State could move up or down one spot, but other than that, we shouldn’t see much change over the final three events.

Women – Team Rankings – Through Event 18

1. North Carolina State Universit 1153
2. Virginia, University of 1086
3. Louisville, University of 933
4. Notre Dame, University of 806.5
5. Duke University 659
6. Florida State University 606
7. North Carolina, University of, 588.5
8. VA Tech 430.5
9. Georgia Institute of Technolog 310
10. Pittsburgh, University of 283
11. University of Miami (Florida) 247.5
12. Boston College 124

200 Breast Finals

  1. Sophie Hansson (NC State) – 2:06.73
  2. Nina Kucheran (FSU) – 2:08.78
  3. Morgan Friesen (Louisville) – 2:09.05

NC State freshman Sophie Hansson competed her breaststroke sweep this week, leading from start to finish and winning by over two seconds, in 2:06.73. It was complete dominance for Hansson, who had the fastest split on every 50. Another freshman, FSU’s Nina Kucheran, took 2nd in 2:08.78.

A pair of Louisville sophomores took the next two spots, with Morgan Friesen taking 3rd in 2:09.05 and Mariia Astashkina taking 4th in 2:09.30. Astashkina was the defending champion in the event, and while she was a little off last year’s winning time of 2:09.01, even repeating that time wouldn’t have been enough to beat Hansson (or Kucheran) this year.

UVA did about as well as they could. Vivian Tafuto dropped over a second to hold on her to 5th place, and Mary Christensen won the B-final with a 2:08.85 that would’ve put her 3rd in the A-final had she made it in this morning. Still, NC State maintains a 72 point lead with one individual event to go.

200 Fly Finals

  1. Grace Oglesby (Louisville) – 1:52.81
  2. Nicole Smith (Notre Dame) – 1:54.66
  3. Alena Kraus (Louisville) – 1:55.06

Louisville’s Grace Oglesby joined teammate Comerford in successfully defending her title from last year. Oglesby looked strong and in control the whole way, and her last turn may have been the best, as she won by nearly two seconds, touching in 1:52.81. That was a meet record for Oglesby, although she’s still well off the overall ACC record which Kelsi Worrell, another Louisville Cardinal, still holds from 2016.

Notre Dame’s Nicole Smith took 2nd with a 1:54.66 in the last individual ACC swim of her career, and teammate Lucianna Thomas took 6th in 1:56.20.

Thomas was one of five freshmen that swept the #3-7 spots tonight, including UVA’s Julia Menkhaus (1:55.16), NC State’s Kylee Alons (1:55.33), and Duke’s Cabell Whitlow (1:56.78). UNC junior Bryanna Cameron took 8th in 1:57.92.

Here are the scores heading into the 400 free relay…

Women – Team Rankings – Through Event 20

1. North Carolina State Universit 1297
2. Virginia, University of 1228
3. Louisville, University of 1082
4. Notre Dame, University of 861.5
5. Duke University 712
6. Florida State University 683
7. North Carolina, University of, 650.5
8. VA Tech 431.5
9. Georgia Institute of Technolog 328
10. Pittsburgh, University of 300
11. University of Miami (Florida) 253.5
12. Boston College 124

At this point, we can officially declare NC State the winner. They’ve got a 69 point lead, so even if they were to DQ their relay and UVA was to win, those 64 points would not be enough to make up the margin. Disqualifications by Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, or Pitt could possibly drop each school down a spot, but other than that, the team rankings are pretty well finalized at this point.

400 Free Relay Timed Final

  1. Louisville – 3:11.63
  2. NC State – 3:12.80
  3. UVA – 3:12.97

NC State roared out to an early lead, courtesy of Ky-lee Perry’s 47.69 leadoff, but despite Kylee Alons following that up with a 47.90, NC State’s lead was quickly erased by Mallory Comerford, who split 46.68 on Louisville’s 2nd leg. Casey Fanz extended Louisville’s lead by out splitting Sophie Hansson 48.04 to 48.46, and Arina Openysheva anchored the Cardinals in 48.18 for a 3:11.63 victory.

Both NC State and UVA finished well under the NCAA ‘A’ cut, with the Wolfpack touching in 3:12.80, and the Cavaliers just behind in 3:12.97, with Morgan Hill’s 47.69 split leading the way.

No relays disqualified, so there no changes to the team rankings, and the NC State Wolfpack are your 2019 ACC Women’s Swimming & Diving Champions. They last won the ACC title just two years ago, in 2017, and that marks their 4th team championship overall, with the previous two coming in 1979 and 1980, at the very first two ACC women’s championships.

Women – Final Scores

1. North Carolina State University 1353
2. Virginia, University of 1282
3. Louisville, University of 1146
4. Notre Dame, University of 909.5
5. Duke University 764
6. Florida State University 727
7. North Carolina, University of, 700.5
8. VA Tech 477.5
9. Georgia Institute of Technolog 360
10. Pittsburgh, University of 334
11. University of Miami (Florida) 293.5
12. Boston College 154

In This Story

45
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

45 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Coach Cwik
5 years ago

Pittsburgh 10th place. Maybe I expect too much from their in season times. Very disappointing meet.

90s Swim Fan
5 years ago

Can we discuss UNC and Rich DeSelm for a moment? How much longer does this last?

Wahooswimfan
Reply to  90s Swim Fan
5 years ago

Deselm will be at UNC till he retires – swimming is just not that important for UNC right now, so he will be permitted to stay till he gracefully retires. The ACC is really on the rise – NCSU, UVA and Lville certainly have national level programs, and I supect that over next five years swimmers like Ledecky, Seliskar, Conger, Haas, etc will stay on the east coast with one of these programs instead of heading to Texas or Cal or Stanford.

Crusty
Reply to  Wahooswimfan
5 years ago

Maybe you’re right but Not sure the athletic dept can ignore a seventh place finish after guys were 8th last year…

I think this will be the year, if not UNC might as well cut swimming and fund a curling team

swimmerTX
Reply to  Wahooswimfan
5 years ago

Seliskar is doing perfectly fine under Durden. Think he stays.

SwimGeek
Reply to  Robert Gibbs
5 years ago

It’s already happening with the classes that are coming to UVA next year. And K Berkoff – coming all the way from Montana to NCST. The big test will be when Anthony Grimm and Torri Huske make their decisions soon

B1G fan
5 years ago

This was brought up a few days ago but….

Dino = Best distance coach in ACC / one of best in country.
Bobby = Best sprint coach in ACC / one of best in country.
El Jefe aka Braden = Best head coach in the ACC / best head coach in country.

paloozas
Reply to  B1G fan
5 years ago

greg meehan and eddie reese say hello

Isaac
Reply to  paloozas
5 years ago

Not saying they aren’t great coaches (they 100% are) but Texas and Stanford get by far the best recruits for men/women respectively. Yes, recruiting is part of coaching but what Holloway has been able to do at NC State is nothing short of amazing.

Retired Swamme
Reply to  Isaac
5 years ago

Let’s put this in perspective. An Agriculture school….Who is the 3rd biggest brand in its own market (UNC, Duke) Goes head to head with Cal, Texas, Stanford, Arizona, Florida, etc etc in recruiting. Has an indoor pool only that was built 70 years ago. Want to know my opinion, I don’t think Meehan could do what Braden has done in Raleigh. Could Eddie, before he became Texas Eddie do it?

Color me shocked here, but there is NO sound reasoning why NC State should be a powerhouse in a sport like swimming. It is a pure testament that HARD WORK and PURE COACHING TALENT from these 3 guys (plus Gary Taylor).

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Retired Swamme
5 years ago

Eddie did it at Auburn. So yes.

Togger
Reply to  Retired Swamme
5 years ago

On the topic, is there a reason Duke is so poor in swimming?

As a non-American, on paper it looks to have an exceptionally appealing combination of blue chip academics, location relatively close to many top recruits and overall sporting pedigree. In theory it should be recruiting at UVA’s level or even better, but is nowhere near.

Are the facilities poor (seems surprising for heavily endowed private school)?

Pack Mack
Reply to  Togger
5 years ago

Duke’s swimming facilities are far better than NC State’s. However, NC State’s coach is far better than Duke’s

NoDuke!
Reply to  Pack Mack
5 years ago

Other than having a 10M platform, Duke’s facilities are even worse than State’s. State has the old and somewhat decrepit competition pool but it has a great atmosphere with the fans right on top of three sides. They also have a 50M training pool right behind it (not to mention the 50M outdoor pool and platform they are going to build). Duke only has a 25 yard pool and it’s in a dungeon. I was on deck for a meet there a couple weeks back and it was practically depressing being down there. I’m a Carolina guy so don’t have any love for either program (and obviously have our own swimming challenges in Chapel Hill), but purely on swimming facilities,… Read more »

Togger
Reply to  NoDuke!
5 years ago

String username to content correlation!

That makes sense, just thought it was odd from a outsider perspective, given all the apparent advantages Duke should have!

Admin
Reply to  Togger
5 years ago

The explanations have always been facilities, and until very recently the women were underfunded scholarship wise. They’ve certainly improved since they got full scholarships, but the men are still way underfunded. https://swimswam.com/duke-increase-womens-swimming-full-scholarship-status/

As one coach explained to me, the facility isn’t even entirely about ‘bringing a kid on a recruiting trip and ooooh lala look at this pretty pool I need this!’ When you have a big shiny facility a la Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia, then there are lots of sectionals, winter champs, even national level meets on campus. Once you can get a kid on campus, recruiting becomes infinitely easier. So, big-time facility almost = extra free recruiting trips.

Togger
Reply to  Braden Keith
5 years ago

That makes sense, just wondered, because high level it seems to have everything necessary to mount a serious recruiting scheme, particularly with the chance to follow Stanford’s overall needs blind policy and make scholarships less of a factor.

distance fan
Reply to  Retired Swamme
5 years ago

Agree with most of the above, but recognize that academics are also on the rise at NC State. It’s no longer just an Ag school. We know quite a few in-state kids (non athletes) who get in to UNC but choose NC State instead for its engineering or design & architecture programs which are very well regarded here and getting tougher to gain admittance to every year. One of our friends picked NC State over Cal for engineering just last year – again, non swimmer, so cost was the major deciding factor – but just to say that State has a lot of smart kids and offers a great education. But they really do need a new pool.

CHESWIMMER
Reply to  distance fan
5 years ago

This is true. Objectively speaking, the academic credentials for admitted students at NCSU are greatly improving (Average SAT for 2022 class = 1344, Average UW GPA = 3.81).

NCSU always has strong STEM programs but relatively weak in liberal arts, so it tends to attract a smaller crowd of students than most universities. Not to mention, being overshadowed by neighboring UNC-CH & Duke for most of its history seems to shape the opinion of people that NCSU is not a good institution.

paloozas
Reply to  Isaac
5 years ago

nc state gets good recruits these days as well

Coach Cwik
Reply to  paloozas
5 years ago

Yes and when Eddie retires, who is the number one choice his place???

Hola
Reply to  B1G fan
5 years ago

Funny how they keep finishing 4th/5th at NCAAs then….

samuel huntington
Reply to  Hola
5 years ago

Yes, for Braden to be in the best coach in the country conversation, he needs a top 3 finish at NCAAs first.

Joel Lin
Reply to  samuel huntington
5 years ago

I get offended when people go on that Belichick is the best, Saban, Coach K, etc. are the ones. The two greatest living coaches in any sport or Eddie Reese & Gino Auriemma in no particular order…full stop. This sport has some great young coaches like Braden, but consistency & endurance of excellence matters.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Joel Lin
5 years ago

I’d argue that they’re the greatest living college coaches for men and women, respectively. Neither has led both men and women’s teams (or with any significant success). Braden seems to be getting it done for both.

Rick
Reply to  samuel huntington
5 years ago

He is the best SWIMMING coach. It is diving that keeps NC State from breaking into top 3.

Swimmom
Reply to  samuel huntington
5 years ago

Eddie was a “young” coach once too. Congratulations NCSU

Retired Swamme
Reply to  Hola
5 years ago

Cal, Texas, Florida, NC State, Michigan, Stanford…….. do any of those seem out of place?

Silent Observer
Reply to  Retired Swamme
5 years ago

I think you are forgetting Indiana in that top listing… They were great.. Had some down years… Now back on the rise.

Has as good a chance as NCState to claim a team title in the coming years

Billy Goat
Reply to  Retired Swamme
5 years ago

That’s the point. NC State shouldn’t be in the conversation. But they are. Making a #statement

Retired Swamme
5 years ago

THAT 200 BACK WAS AWESOME! GO PACK!

NCSUswim
5 years ago

Sorry Todd, not this year 😘🥇

Rick
5 years ago

The champagne is on ice in Raleigh!

Rick
5 years ago

The champagne is on ice now in Raleigh.

AlphaWuf
5 years ago

So NCST really had 12 up today compared to UVA’s 8. Meet over. I was secretly hoping this would come down to the last relay to watch NC State win it by taking the 400 FrRel …. but that mile just pumped me up!

Thank you, next.

About Robert Gibbs