2022 ACC Championships: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2022 ACC Swimming and Diving Championships

• When: Tuesday, February 15th to Saturday, February 19th Prelims 10:00am | Finals 6:00 pm (Tuesday 11:00am/4:30pm)
• Where: McAuley Aquatic Center, Atlanta Georgia (Eastern Time Zone)
• Defending Champions
  • Women: University of Virginia (17x) (results)
  • Men: University of Louisville (1x) (results)
• Streaming: ACC Network
  • Tuesday (prelims/finals)
  • Wednesday (prelims/finals)
  • Thursday (prelims/finals)
  • Friday (prelims/finals)
  • Saturday (prelims/1650s/finals)
• Championship Central: Here
• Detailed Timeline: Here
• Psych Sheets: Here
• Live Results

Tonight we’ll see the first full night of racing at the 2022 ACC Swimming & Diving Championships, and what a night it could be.

We should get some speed right almost away, as the UVA and NC State women will square off in the final heat of the 200 free relay. The Cavaliers could be considered the favorites after Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh tied to establish a new meet record in the 50 free this morning, but you can’t count out the Wolfpack. Last year, this race was about as close as it could be, with UVA winning by a mere 0.05s.

After that, take a minute or two to catch your breath or refill your cup, because the men’s 200 free relay should be just as exciting. The Louisville Cardinals are the defending champions, but NC State and Virginia each put three men into the A-final of the 50 free this morning, with Wolfpack freshman David Curtiss producing the fastest swim of the morning at 18.77.

After those frenetic opening events, settle down for a total of six heats of the 500 free. Louisville’s Liberty Williams and NC State’s Ross Dant hold the top seeds after this morning.

The women’s 200 IM is one of several events where we could see the meet, or even the conference record, go down tonight. Olympic silver medalist Alex Walsh of UVA led the way this morning, although NC State will pick up big points after putting four women into the A-final. There will be five NC State men in the 200 IM A-final, but the top seed belongs to Virginia Tech’s Carles Coll Marti after he went 1:42.14 this morning, over a second faster than anyone else.

We’ll wrap up the swimming with the 50 freestyles, which we already alluded to earlier. Again, meet, conference, and pool records could all be in danger, based on the speed we saw this morning. Finally, the evening will close with finals of the men’s 3m diving event, where UNC’s Anton Down-Jenkins holds the top seed.

Women’s 200 Free Relay – Timed Finals

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:28.43
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 1:29.21
• Meet Record – 1:26.15, NC State, 2019
• Conference Record – 1:25.97, NC State, 2021

Top 3:

1. Virginia – 1:24.47
2. NC State – 1:26.51
3. Louisville – 1:27.08

We told you to keep an eye out for records going down tonight. Sure enough, the Virginia Cavaliers started the session with a bang, breaking the meet, conference, American, NCAA, and U.S. Open Record with a 1:24.47. That replaces the previous time of 1:24.55, set by Cal in 2019, as the fastest time ever.

Kate Douglass led off in 21.10, which breaks the meet record, and is only 0.05 shy of Douglass’ own conference record. Alex Walsh split 21.38, followed by Lexi Cuomo at 21.41. At that point, it wasn’t clear if the Cavaliers could take down the U.S. Open mark, but freshman Gretchen Walsh absolutely crushed the anchor with a 20.58 split, one of the fastest of all time, as UVA won by over two seconds.

NC State kept things close in the first half of the race after a 21.63 leadoff by Katharine Berkoff and a 21.11 2nd leg from Kylee Alons. Sophie Hansson (21.81) and Heather McCausland (21.96) had strong splits as well, and NC State touched in 1:26.51, also under the previous pool record.

Louisville (1:27.08), North Carolina (1:27.13), and Virginia Tech (1:27.96) were all also under the NCAA ‘A’ standard, with the Tar Heels and Hokies setting both setting new school records.

Men’s 200 Free Relay – Timed Finals

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:17.07
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 1:17.80
• Meet Record – 1:15.34, NC State, 2018
• Conference Record – 1:14.50, NC State, 2018

Top 3:

1. Virgina – 1:14.47
2. NC State – 1:14.59
3. Louisville – 1:15.98

Yes, you read that right. The Virginia men just set the meet, conference, and American records in this event.

Matt Brownstead led off in 18.87, then Matt King (18.49), freshman Connor Boyle (18.63), and August Lamb (18.48) split three 18-mids to record the fastest time ever by a quartet of American swimmers. That appears to be the 6th-fastest performance ever. UVA has now won six ACC titles in this event, with their last one coming in 2010.

NC State had an amazing relay themselves. Freshman David Curtiss actually touched the wall ahead of Brownstead, leading off in 18.79. Noah Henderson clocked a 18.46 split on the second leg, followed by Nyls Korstanje (18.54). The final leg proved to epic, as Lamb and Kacper Stokowski squared off on the anchor. Lamb popped up quickly after the turn and promptly started hauling water, while Stokowski stayed underwater to roughly halfway down the pool. Stokowski “only” managed a 18.80 split, as NC State took 2nd in 1:14.59, just 0.09s shy of the program and (previous) ACC record.

Louisville took 3rd from the second heat, winning that heat with a time of 1:15.98. That set a school record, beating their time of 1:15.99 from last season that actually won this event at ACCs.

It was an incredibly fast event overall, as Virginia Tech (1:16.29), Florida State (1:16.40), and Notre Dame (1:16.98) were all under the ‘A’ cut, while Georgia Tech (1:17.59) was under the ‘B’ cut of 1:17.80 and Duke (1:17.87) just missed it.

While there’s a lot of conference swimming to come, at this point, the ACC owns five of the top seven times in the country in this event, and the top five teams here tonight would have finished ahead of the 2nd place team, Tennessee, at the SEC Championships this evening.

Women’s 500 Free – Finals

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 4:35.76
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 4:44.47
• Meet Record – 4:30.74, Leah Smith (UVA), 2016
• Conference Record – 4:28.90, Leah Smith (UVA), 2017
• 2021 NCAA Invite Time – 4:44.47

Top 3:

1. Emma Weyant (Virginia) – 4:37.23
2. Liberty Williams (Louisville) – 4:38.82
3. Maddie Donohoe (Virgina) – 4:41.61

Top-seeded Liberty Williams of Louisville took the early lead, but Virginia’s Emma Weyant took control by the 150 and never relinquished the lead, winning by well over a second with a time of 4:37.23. That’s a new personal best for Weyant, who won an Olympic medal in the 400 IM this summer.

Williams hung on to take 2nd in 4:38.82, just a bit off of her lifetime best of 4:38.79 from last month’s Louisville v. Kentucky dual meet. However that’s a bit step up Williams, finish-wise, after she won the B-final last year with a 4:44.05. Weyant’s teammate Maddie Donohoe took 3rd in 4:41.61, moving up one spot from her 4th place finish last year.

A pair of Virginia Tech swimmers, Reka Gyorgy (4:42.70) and Chase Travis (4:43.12) were also under last year’s invite time time, while the NC State trio of Yara Hierath (4:44.61), Katharine Foley (4:44.84), and Brooke Travis (4:45.29) rounded out the A-final, securing some big points for the Wolfpack.

Men’s 500 Free – Finals

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 4:11.62
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 4:23.34
• Meet Record – 4:10.00, Matt McLean (UVA), 2009
• Conference Record – 4:09.13, Anton Ipsen (NC State), 2018
• 2021 NCAA Invite Time – 4:16.75

Top 3:

1. Ross Dant (NC State) – 4:10.35
2. James Plage (NC State) – 4:12.57
3. Will Gallant (NC State) – 4:12.99

The Wolfpack not only swept the podium, but the top four spots here as they stacked up the points in the second-longest individual event.

Ross Dant had the fastest time this morning, but he held back just a little early on as first Antani Ivanov and then Eric Knowles briefly took early leads. But Dant took control by the halfway point, then had three splits between 25.18 and 25.22 before cranking it up just a bit with a 24.88 final 50. His time of 4:10.35 was just a few-tenths shy of the meet record of 4:10.00. That’s almost two seconds faster than Dant was last year, when he took 2nd to Notre Dame’s Jack Hoagland with a 4:12.21.

A pair of Wolfpack sophomores, James Plage and Will Gallant, an Indiana transfer, took 2nd and 3rd in 4:12.57 and 4:12.99. Fifth year Eric Knowles finished 4th in 4:13.60. Last season, Knowles finished 6th with a 4:17.62, while Plage took 7th with a 4:18.44.

Gallant had a massive improvement today, coming in with a best time of 4:18.85, and lopping nearly six seconds off of that time.

Virginia Tech’s Ivanov ended up in 5th with a time of 4:14.08 after taking 4th last year with a 4:14.92.

Georgia Tech took 6th and 8th, with freshman Mert Kilavuz going 4:15.44 and sophomore Baturalp Unlu taking 8th for the second year in a row, the time with a 4:19.43.

UVA’s Jack Wright took 7th in 4:15.58 after winning the B-final last year with a 4:17.84.

Yordan Yanchev of Florida State couldn’t make the A-final this morning after finishing 5th overall last year, but he won the B-final tonight with a time of 4:14.61, just a bit faster than his finals time of 4:14.66 from last year.

Women’s 200 IM – Finals

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:53.66
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 1:59.94
• Meet Record – 1:51.36, Kate Douglass (UVA), 2020
• Conference Record – 1:50.92, Kate Douglass (UVA), 2020
• 2021 NCAA Invite Time – 1:57.62

Top 3:

1. Alex Walsh (Virginia) – 1:52.38
2. Sarah Foley (Duke) – 1:54.47
3. Abby Arens (NC State) – 1:55.16

Virginia sophomore Alex Walsh swam a very smooth 1:52.38 to take win here by over two seconds. That’s a bit off of her best time of 1:51.53, which ranks her as #5 all-time in the event.

Duke’s Sarah Foley took 2nd in 1:54.47, a strong improvement over her tenth place finish time of 1:57.03 last season. NC State’s Abby Arens, like Foley a sophomore, took 3rd in 1:55.16 after taking 5th in 1:55.45 last season.

Louisville’s Abby Hay took 4th in 1:55.25, followed by UVA’s Ella Nelson at 1:55.93, reversing their finishes from last year.

Once again, NC State finished 6th-8th, as Kate Moore (1:56.01), Grace Sheble (1:56.08) and Julia Poole (1:56.27) netted big points for the ‘Pack.

Men’s 200 IM – Finals

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 1:41.34
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 1:46.77
• Meet Record – 1:41.25, Andreas Vazaios (NC State), 2017
• Conference Record – 1:39.35, Andreas Vazaios (NC State), 2019
• 2021 NCAA Invite Time – 1:44.15

Top 3:

1. Carles Coll Marti (Virginia Tech) – 1:40.67
2. Daniel Sos (Louisville) – 1:42.74
3. Giovanni Izzo (NC State) – 1:42.97

NC State’s Giovanni Izzo has hitherto been known primarily as a sprint freestyler, so it wasn’t too shocking to see him take an early lead, as he went out in 21.7. And while Izzo held on perhaps surprisingly well, he was no match for Virginia Tech’s Carles Coll Marti. The sophomore took control on the breaststroke leg, and then extended his lead, stopping the clock in 1:40.67.

That time is now the fastest in the NCAA this season, and also broke a meet record previous held by NC State’s Andreas Vazaios. That’s the first win in this event for Virginia Tech since Brandon Fiala won back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016.

Louisville’s Daniel Sos took 2nd in 1:42.74, followed by Izzo at 1:42.97.

2019 and 2021 champion Caio Pumputis of Georgia Tech took 4th in 1:43.89.

In what’s become a theme of the night, NC State finished 5th-8th, with all four men: Sam Hoover (1:44.13), Arsenio Bustos (1:44.14), Mikey Moore (1:44.44), and Noah Bowers (1:44.55) all adding time from this morning. The Wolfpack may not care too much about being a bit slower at night, though, as they’re still accumulating points with reckless abandon in these stacked A-finals.

Virginia Tech’s Samuel Tornqvist won the B-final with a 1:43.22, which would’ve placed 4th in the A-final, followed closely by Georgia Tech freshman Berke Saka at 1:43.27.

UVA was in a precarious position after finishing 17th-20th in this morning’s prelims, but they managed to hold onto those prospective points by sweeping the top four spots in the C-final.

Women’s 50 Free – Finals

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 21.66
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 22.76
• Meet Record – 21.25, Kate Douglass/Gretchen Walsh (UVA), 2022
• Conference Record – 21.09, Kate Douglass (UVA), 2021
• 2021 NCAA Invite Time – 22.32

Top 3:

1. Kate Douglass (Virginia) – 21.00
2. Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 21.04
3. Grace Countie (North Carolina) – 21.45

This promised to be a thrilling race, and sure enough, the UVA tandem of Kate Douglass and Gretchen Walsh did not disappoint. The pair both swam a 21.25 in this morning’s prelims, setting a new meet record, but they both had more in the tank.

Douglass got her hand on the wall first tonight, touching in 21.00. That’s the 2nd-fastest performance ever, behind only Abbey Weitzeil’s 20.90 from 2019. Walsh, meanwhile, moves up to the #4 performer all-time with #6 all-time swim of 21.04.

UNC’s Grace Countie knocked 0.63s off of her time from last year’s A-final, taking 3rd in 21.45 after tying for 4th with a 22.08 last season.

We’ve still got a couple more men’s events, but here’s how the women’s scores stand after two days.

1. Virginia, University of 421
2. North Carolina State Universit 415
3. Louisville, University of 274
4. Duke University 232
5. VA Tech 221
6. North Carolina, University of, 216
7. Notre Dame, University of 176
8. University of Miami (Florida) 167
9. Florida State University 148
10. Georgia Institute of Technolog 109
11. Pittsburgh, University of 94
12. Boston College 75

Men’s 50 Free – Finals

• NCAA ‘A’ Cut – 18.96
• NCAA ‘B’ Cut – 19.96
• Meet Record – 18.68, Ryan Held (NC State), 2017
• Conference Record – 18.56, Ryan Held (NC State), 2017
• 2021 NCAA Invite Time – 19.46

Top 3:

1. David Curtiss (NC State) – 18.74
2. Haridi Sameh (Louisville) – 18.83
3. Youssef Ramadan (Virginia Tech) – 18.87

A freshman won this event for the second year in a row, as NC State’s David Curtiss shaved 0.03s off of his prelims time to win with a 18.74 in a thrilling race.

Louisville’s Haridi Sameh (Abdelrahman Elarby) took 2nd in 18.83 after taking 3rd last year in 19.15. Virginia Tech’s Youssef Ramadan also moved up one spot from his 2021 finish, touching just behind the Cardinal with a 18.87.ta

Last year’s winner, Matt Brownstead of Virginia, wasn’t able to match last year’s winning time of 18.88, settling for 4th with a 19.02. 2020 champion Nyls Korstanje of NC State took 5th in 19.06. Teammate Noah Henderson also improved on his prelims time, earning 6th with a 19.12.

Facing the “problem” of having five men at a 19.2 or better, the Cavaliers left freshman Jack Aikins off of their 200 free relay after he tied Matt King for 8th this morning, but he knocked another 0.11s off his prelims time to tie Henderson. Fellow Cavalier freshman Connor Boyle was the only man in the A-final to add time, although it was only 0.13s, as he finished 8th in 19.32. King won the B-final with a time of 19.17.

With the 1m diving finals still to go tonight here’s how the men’s scores look:

1. NC State – 474.5
2. Louisville – 313.5
3. Virginia – 307
4. Virginia Tech – 280
5. Georgia Tech – 234
6. Florida State – 228
7. UNC – 175
8. Pitt – 109
9. Duke – 106
10. Notre Dame – 84
11. Boston College – 79
12. Miami (FL) – 32

Men’s 1m Diving – Finals

• Meet Record – 499.95, Nick McCrory (Duke), 2010
• Conference Record – 499.95, Nick McCrory (Duke), 2010

Top 3:

1. Anton Down-Jenkins (UNC) – 419.40
2. Ruben Lechuga (Georgia Tech) – 371.20
3. Dylan Reed (Pitt) – 367.80

UNC’s Anton Down-Jenkins successfully defending his title in this event, winning by a fairly wide margin over Georgia Tech’s Ruben Lechuga. Down-Jenkins finished 2nd in the 3m yesterday.

Pitt was the only school to put two men into the top eight of this event, with Dylan Reed earning 3rd and Cameron Cash taking 8th.

Looking at the results in terms of the team battles, both Virgina and Louisville had three scorers. Last year, UVA didn’t score a single diving point.

Team Scores After Day 2:

1. NC State – 506.5
2. Louisville – 361.5
3. Virginia – 336
4. Virginia Tech – 319
5. Georgia Tech – 264
6. Florida State – 248
7. UNC – 236
8. Pitt – 158
9. Duke – 135
10. Notre Dame – 86
11. Boston College – 79
12. Miami (FL) – 57

With two of the three diving events complete, but plenty of swimming to go, it looks like the scoring tiers are starting to solidify somewhat.

NC State appears to be in cruise control as this point, with a 145 point lead. Louisville, Virgina, and Virginia all seem to be battling for 2nd, with the next group consisting of Georgia Tech, Florida State, and UNC, followed by Pitt and Duke

Notre Dame seems to be struggling more than expected, but part of that is due to a relay DQ, and they have a good opportunity to close the gap tomorrow in the 400 IM, even without defending champion Jack Hoagland. Miami isn’t racking up the diving points like they have in years past, making it look increasingly likely that Boston College will get out of conference cellar this year.