2023 ACC Championships: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2023 ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, February 14 to Saturday, February 18, 2023
• Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, North Carolina
• Defending Champions:
  • Women: Virginia (3x)
  • Men: NC State (1x)
• Full Event Schedule
• Championship Central
• Pre-Scratch Psych Sheets
• Women’s Fan Guide
• Men’s Fan Guide
• Live Results

Wednesday Night Heat Sheets

After a relay-and-diving-only session last night that saw the all-time record go down in the 200 medley relay, swimmers, coaches, and fans are gearing up for what promises to be another exciting night at the 2023 ACC Swimming & Diving Championships.

The action will kick off with the 200 free relay. Last year, the Virginia women won this event with a U.S. Open record, while the UVA men won in American Record fashion.

The first individual event of the night will be the women’s 500 free, where Georgia Tech freshman Deniz Ertan holds the top seed after going 4:40.03 in this morning’s prelims. On the men’s side, NC State’s James Plage posted the fastest prelims time at 4:14.45, and he’ll vying against a field that includes two previous ACC champions in Jack Hoagland (Notre Dame) and Ross Dant (NC State).

We could see another record go down in the women’s 200 IM, where Kate Douglass blasted a 1:50.70 this morning for the #3 performance ever. Virginia Tech’s Carles Coll Marti will swim in lane 4 during the men’s race, and he’s the defending the champion, and the only man in the field who’s been under 1:40.

UVA’s Gretchen Walsh went 21.01 this morning in the 50 free, and she could threaten Douglass’ all-time record of 20.84 tonight. We don’t expect to see anyone threaten Caeleb Dressel’s 17.63 on the men’s side, but it should be a great race; VT’s Youssef Ramadan will be in lane 4 after a 18.86 prelims race, and there’s a deep experienced field around him.

The night will close with the women’s 1m diving finals, where UNC’s Aranza Vazquez, the 2021 champion, had the top score this morning.

Women’s 200 Free Relay

• NCAA Record: 1:24.47, Virginia – 2022 ACC Championships
• ACC Record: 1:24.47, Virginia – 2022 ACC Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 1:24.47, Virginia (2022)
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:28.43

Top 8:

1. Virginia – 1:23.87
2. Louisville – 1:25.29
3. NC State – 1:26.54
4. UNC – 1:27.69
5. Virginia Tech – 1:28.68
6. Pitt/Duke – 1:29.18
7. (tie)
8. Florida State – 1:29.59

Another day, another record for the Virginia women. Kate Douglass led off in 20.95, just 0.11s shy of her all-time record in the individual 50 free. Gretchen Walsh followed with a 20.48 split, which appears to move her past Douglass as the 4th-fastest woman ever on a relay split. Lexi Cuomo split 21.14 tonight after going “just” 22.11 this morning, and Alex Walsh anchored in 21.30. That combined time of 1:23.87 makes the Cavaliers quartet the first to ever go under 1:24, and indeed, knocks a whopping six-tenths of a second off of the previous record, which UVA set here last year.

While the NC State women usually bring it with the sprint free, Louisville put four women into the A- or B-finals of the 50 free this morning, and the Cardinals took 2nd tonight, beating NC State by over a second. Gabi Albiero led off in 21.57, Christiana Regenauer nearly joined the sub-21 club with a 21.03 split, Julia Dennis went 21.43, and Ella Welch anchored in 21.26, for a total time of 1:25.29.

Both Virginia and Louisville were faster than the best time in the NCAA this season heading into today, a 1:25.90 from Louisville at the NC State Invite.

NC State took 3rd in 1:26.54. Katharine Berkoff led off in 21.66, followed by Kylee Alons (21.31), Annabel Crush (22.13), and Abby Arens (21.44). Pending other results from tonight, that should move them up from #12 to #4 in the nation this season.

UNC also got under the NCAA ‘A’ cut with a 1:27.69, including a 21.69 leadoff by Grace County. Virginia Tech (1:28.68), Duke (1:29.18), and Pitt (1:29.18) were all under the NCAA ‘B’ cut.

Men’s 200 Free Relay

• NCAA Record: 1:14.08, Auburn – 2009 NCAA Championships
• ACC Record:1:14.47, Virginia – 2022 ACC Championships
• ACC Championship Record:1:14.47, Virginia (2022)
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:16.80

Top 8:

1. NC State – 1:15.10
2. Virginia – 1:15.89
3. Louisville – 1:15.90
4. Virginia Tech – 1:16.15
5. FSU – 1:16.82
6. Notre Dame – 1:17.35
7. Pitt – 1:17.89
8. UNC – 1:18.52

It feels a bit tough to believe given how dominant they’ve been in the sprints, but NC State claimed their first title in this event in five years with a 1:15.10 win tonight.

David Curtiss led off in 18.99 for the Wolfpack after going 19.15 in this morning’s prelims of the individual 50 free. For those who like to see splits follow a pattern, the Wolfpack swimmers got progressively faster from there. Noah Henderson split 18.79 on the second leg, Luke Miller split 18.77 on the third, and then Nyls Korstanje anchored in 18.55, the fastest split in the field. Pending other results from tonight (e.g., SECs), NC State now appears to have the fastest time in the nation this season. Curtiss, Henderson, and Korstnaje will all swim in the 50 free A-final later this evening, while NC State opted to go with Miller, typically more of a 100/200 guy, over Aiden Hayes, who finished 9th in prelims with a 19.41.

Defending champions UVA are missing two of the men who swam on that relay last year in Matt King and Connor Boyle, but rallied on the back half to claim 2nd by 0.01s. Matt Brownstead led off in 19.21, a bit slower than his 19.14 from this morning, Jack Aikins split 19.18 on the second leg, then Tim Connery (18.91) and August Lamb (18.59) closed strong to touch in 1:15.89.

Louisville was right behind UVA at 1:15.90. Abdelrahman Elarby led off in 19.07, 0.15s faster than this morning. Michael Eastman, who’s been a relatively unsung relay hero for the Cardinals over the years, split 18.88, followed by Dalton Lowe (18.93) and Vlad Dubinin (19.02).

Virginia Tech was in 2nd place at the halfway mark, after a 19.00 leadoff from Youssef Ramadan and a 18.90 second leg from Carles Coll Marti. The Hokies ultimately took 4th in 1:16.15, also under the NCAA ‘A’ mark. FSU (1:16.82) and Notre Dame (1:17.35) cleared the ‘B’ standard. Chris Guiliano led off in 18.95 for the Fighting Irish, actually putting them in the lead after the first leg.

Brownstead, Lamb, Elarby, Ramadan, and Guilidano will all join the three NC State men in the A-final later this session.

WOMEN’S 500 FREESTYLE — Finals

• NCAA Record: 4:24.06, Katie Ledecky (STAN) – 2017 NCAA Championships
• ACC Record: 4:28.90, Leah Smith (UVA) — 2017 NCAA Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 4:30.74, Leah Smith (UVA) — 2016 ACC Championships
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:35.76
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 4:43.08

Top 8:

1. Deniz Ertan (Georgia Tech) / Ella Nelson (UVA) – 4:38.04
2. (tie)
3. Maddie Donohoe (UVA) – 4:39.53
4. Claire Tuggle (UVA) – 4:40.41
5. Emma Atkinson (Virginia Tech) – 4:40.62
6. Emma Hastings (NC State) – 4:41.26
7. Liberty Williams (Louisville) – 4:41.63
8. Chase Travis (Virginia Tech) – 4:42.67

Now there’s something you don’t see every day — a tie in a 500 free. Georgia Tech freshman Deniz Ertan, who had the fastest time this morning, led for most of the race. UVA senior Ella Nelson stayed close, and then took the lead with a 50 to go. Ertan hung tough, though, it came down to the final touch, and both touched at exactly 4:38.04. That time puts the pair only behind Erica Sullivan’s 4:35.88 so far this season.

The Virginia women have dominated this event in recent history. Nelson’s win marks the fourth-straight year that a Cavalier has gotten at least a share of the win, and former UVA star Leah Smith won this event all four years she was at UVA, 2014-2017.

In fact, the Cavaliers grabbed three of the top four spots. Maddie Donohoe touched 3rd in 4:39.53, followed by freshman Claire Tuggle at 4:40.41. That’s Tuggle’s first personal best in this event since 2018, when she went 4:41.36.

Virginia Tech had a pair of women in the A-final: Emma Atkinson took 5th in 4:40.62, while Chase Travis took 8th in 4:42.67. NC State’s Emma Hastings touched 6th in 4:41.26, while Louisville’s Liberty Williams touched 7th in 4:41.63. All the women in the A-final were under last year’s NCAA invite time.

MEN’S 500 FREESTYLE — Finals

• NCAA Record: 4:06.32, Kieran Smith (FLOR) – 2020 SEC Championships
• ACC Record: 4:09.13, Anton Ipsen (NC State) — 2018 NCAA Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 4:10.00, Matt Mclean (UVA) — 2009 ACC Championships
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 4:11.40
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 4:14.96

Top 8:

1. James Plage (NC State) – 4:12.33
2. Baturalp Unlu (Georgia Tech) 4:12.35
3. Yordan Yanchev (Florida State) – 4:12.97
4. Will Gallant (NC State) – 4:13.85
5. Jack Hoagland (Notre Dame) – 4:16.31
6. Ross Dant (NC State) – 4:16.57
7. Ilia Sibirtsev (Louisville) – 4:19.24
8. Owen Lloyd (NC State) – 4:19.75

If before this race, someone had told you that they’re be a trio of guys vying for the win at 4:12, you may not have been too surprised…but you may not have expected it to be these three men.

We’ll skip to the end, where NC State’s James Plage got his hand on the wall first, touching at 4:12.33 over Georgia Tech’s Baturalp Unlu (4:12.35). Florida State’s Yordan Yanchev touched 3rd in 4:12.97. On one hand, that’s not too surprising, as both Plage and Unlu have been 4:12 before, and Unlu won the 200 free title two years ago, but they all finished ahead of several guys with individual ACC distance free championships under their belt.

Last year’s 1650 champ, Will Gallant of NC State, touched 4th in 4:13.85. The 2021 champ in both the 500 and 1650, Jack Hoagland of Notre Dame took 5th in 4:16.31, while Ross Dant, who won this event last year in 4:10.35, ended up 6th at 4:16.57. Louisville’s Ilia Sibirtsev took 7th at 4:19.24. The final Wolfpack swimmer, Owen Lloyd, rounded out the top 8 with a 4:19.85.

WOMEN’S 200 IM — Finals

• NCAA Record: 1:50.08, Alex Walsh (UVA) – 2022 NCAA Championships
• ACC Record: 1:50.08, Alex Walsh (UVA) – 2022 NCAA Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 1:51.36, Kate Douglass (UVA) — 2020 ACC Championships
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:53.66
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 1:56.85

Top 8:

1. Kate Douglass (Virginia) – 1:50.15
2. Sally Foley (Duke) – 1:54.12
3. Abby Harter (Virginia) – 1:54.83
4. Abby Arens (NC State) – 1:54.93
5. Abby Hay (Louisville) – 1:55.48
6. Kennedy Noble (NC State) – 1:55.92
7. Grace Sheble (NC State) – 1:57.43
8. Catherine Belyakov (Duke) – 1:57.84

The 200 IM was on record watch after Kate Douglass went 1:50.70 this morning, and sure enough Douglass appeared to be pace for most of the race. Ultimately, though, she missed it by just a whisker, clocking a 1:50.15 for the #2 performance of all-time, moving her past Ella Eastin (1:50.67) and just behind teammate Alex Walsh (1:50.08).

Walsh opted not to swim this event this meet, but UVA also got a 3rd place finish from Abby Harter (1:54.83).

Duke got a 2nd place finish from Sally Foley (1:54.12), as well an 8th-place effort from Catherine Belyakov (1:57.84).

NC State hauled in big points with three women in the A-final. Abby Arens took 4th in 1:54.93, Kennedy Noble finished 6th at 1:55.92, and Grace Sheble touched 7th in 1:57.43.

It was also an “Abby”-heavy final; Louisville’s Abby Hay finished 5th in 1:55.48.

MEN’S 200 IM — Finals

• NCAA Record: 1:37.69, Leon Marchand (ASU) – 2022 NCAA Championships
• ACC Record: 1:39.35, Andreas Vazaios (NC State) — 2018 NCAA Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 1:40.67, Carlos Coll Marti (VTECH) — 2022 ACC Championships
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:41.22
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 1:43.36

Top 8:

1. Arsenio Bustos (NC State) – 1:40.31
2. Carles Coll Marti (Virginia Tech) – 1:41.02
3. Giovanni Izzo (NC State) – 1:41.13
4. Peter Varjasi (Florida State) – 1:43.37
5. Noah Nichols (Virginia) – 1:43.45
6. Mikey Moore (NC State) – 1:43.71
7. Tim Connery (Virginia) – 1:44.19
8. Noah Bowers (NC State) – 1:44.52

The men’s 200 IM was ultimately a battle between three men: Arsenio Bustos, Carles Coll Marti, and Giovanni Izzo. NC State’s Bustos was a fraction of a second behind his teammate Izzo at the 150-mark but managed to overtake him and pull off the win with a 1:40.31. Bustos out-touched Carles Coll Mart by just under a second as Colles Marti hit a 1:41.02.

Colles Marti won this event last year with a slightly-faster time of 1:40.67 but settled for silver in 2023. While he was first at the 150, Izzo fell to third by the end of the race and hit a 1:41.13. Izzo was third last year at this meet as well, having hit a 1:42.97. Bustos jumped up from his 6th place swim at last year’s ACC Championships (having swum a 1:44.14 there).

NC State has 5 men in the top 8 last year and got close to that feat again this year by having 4 in the final. In addition to Bustos and Izzo, NC State’s Mikey Moore was 6th overall with a 1:43.71 and Noah Bowers touched in 8th place with a 1:44.52. They both swam in the ACC final last year, swimming a 1:44.44 for 7th and 1:44.55 for 8th, respectively.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE — Finals

• NCAA Record: 20.84, Kate Douglass (UVA) – 2022 NCAA Championships
• ACC Record: 20.84, Kate Douglass (UVA) – 2022 NCAA Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 21.00, Kate Douglass (UVA) — 2022 ACC Championships
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 21.66
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 22.16

Top 8:

1. Gretchen Walsh (Virginia) – 20.83
2. Gabi Albiero (Louisville) – 21.36
3. Christiana Regenauer (Louisville) – 21.58
4. Katharine Berkoff (NC State) – 21.73
5. Grace Countie (UNC) – 21.84
6. Sophie Yendell (PITT) / Ella Welch (Louisville) – 21.89
8. Kylee Alons (NC State) – 22.09

Virginia women seemingly can’t stop breaking American records at this meet. Gretchen Walsh swam her way to gold and a new NCAA record in the women’s 50 freestyle here, touching in a 20.83 to undercut Kate Douglass‘ mark of 22.84 from last year’s NCAAs. This is Walsh’s second NCAA record of the night, following the 200 freestyle record that she, Douglass, Lexi Cuomo, and Alex Walsh.

Douglass was absent from this event because she entered the 200 IM as her day two event, but the fact that the two Virginia women are now #1 and #2 in NCAA history and just 0.01 apart could lead to an exciting showdown if Douglass swims this event in March.

While Walsh was the only one to dip under 22 seconds here, Louisville’s Gabi Albiero had a solid swim for second place, hitting a 21.36. That was faster than the 21.77 she swam at last year’s ACC Championships and is also a new PB. Her best time before this final came during prelims when she swam a 21.59.

The bronze medalist here is Christiana Regenauer, Albiero’s Louisville teammate, who swam a 21.58 to out-touch NC State’s Katharine Berkoff (21.73). Landing on the podium is a step up from last for Regenauer who finished second in the B final at ACCs last year with a 22.24. She cracked 22 seconds for the first time in November with a 21.89, swam a 21.88 during prelims, and now has a PB of 21.58.

Grace Countie of UNC came 5th overall with a 21.84, followed by Sophie Yendell (PITT) and Ella Welch (Louisville) who tied for 6th with a 21.89. Kylee Alons from NC State rounded out the top 8 with a 22.09.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE — Finals

• NCAA Record: 17.63, Caeleb Dressel (FLOR) – 2018 NCAA Championships
• ACC Record: 18.56, Ryan Held (NC State) — 2018 NCAA Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 18.68, Ryan Held (NC State) — 2017 ACC Championships
• NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 18.88
• 2022 NCAA Invite Time: 19.28

Top 8:

1. Abdelrahman Elaraby (Louisville) – 18.79
2. Youssef Ramadan (Virginia Tech) – 18.82
3. Chris Guiliano (Notre Dame) – 18.93
4. David Curtiss (NC State) – 18.99
5. Nyls Korstanje (NC State) – 19.12
6. Matthew Brownstead (Virginia) – 19.14
7. August Lamb (Virginia) – 19.21
8. Noah Henderson (NC State) – 19.30

What a difference a year makes. Louisville junior Abdelrahman Elaraby withdrew from the NCAA Championships last year following a suicide attempt, and this year he is on top of the podium at the ACC Championships.

Elaraby swam 18.79 in the 50 free final, setting a new Louisville school record in the process. He becomes the school’s first-ever ACC Champion in the men’s 50 freestyle.

Virginia Tech’s Youssef Ramadan finished 2nd in 18.82, making for an Egyptian 1-2 finish in the race, just-missing his own school record of 18.79 set at last year’s NCAA Championship meet.

Chris Guiliano of Notre Dame took 3rd in 18.93, pushing forward on a huge meet for him. He was 18.95 earlier in the session on the leadoff leg of Notre Dame’s 6th-place 200 free relay, and split 18.41 to anchor Notre Dame’s 5th-place 200 medley relay on Tuesday. The Irish were in 8th place when he left the block, and made up three spots in the final 50 of that relay.

The defending ACC Champion David Curtiss placed 4th in 18.99. He was 18.74 at last year’s ACC Championships, but added time at nationals, so going a quarter-second slower here could be a sign of a different timeline for March this season.

NC State’s Aiden Hayes won the B Final in 19.09.

Women’s 1m Diving – Final

• ACC Record: 379.98, Jenna Dreyer (Miami) — 2007 Zone B Championships
• ACC Championship Record: 361.85, Abby Johnston (Duke) — 2011 ACC Championships

Top 8:

1. Aranza Vazquez (North Carolina) – 379.25 (ACC Championship Record)
2. Mia Vallee (Miami) – 330.05
3. Jenn Bell (Virginia) – 301.40
4. Samantha Vear (Florida State) – 296.95
5. Emily Grund (North Carolina) – 289.50
6. Lindsay Gizzi (Louisville) – 286.15
7. Izzi Mroz (Virginia Tech) – 284.45
8. Grace Courtney (Notre Dame) – 274.15

North Carolina junior Aranza Vazquez moved to two-for-two at these championships in springboard events, winning the women’s 1-meter in a new ACC Championship Record of 379.25. That put her within a point of the overall ACC Record, which has stood since 2007.

Vazquez, a Mexican Olympian in 2021, previously won the 3-meter on Tuesday. That margin was about 14 points, but on 3-meter, she blew the field open, winning by nearly 50 points.

That result helped the Tar Heels stretch their lead ahead of Virginia Tech for 4th place in the team battle to more than 100 points.

Vazquez won the 3-meter and platform events at the 2021 ACC Championships, but didn’t win any titles last season as a sophomore.

Miami’s Mia Vallee finished 2nd on Thursday in 330.05, her second-straight silver medal in the event. The rest of the top three from last year’s championship, both freshmen, didn’t return this season, leaving a wide-open competition.

Team Scores After Day 2

Through two days of competition, the big surprise is the Louisville women sitting 46.5 points ahead of NC State. After day 2 of last year’s meet, NC State was 141 points ahead of Louisville, so that’s a substantial swing. NC State wound up winning by more than 200 points last year.

Women:

1. Virginia – 551
2. Louisville – 473.5
3. NC State – 427
4. North Carolina – 386
5. Virginia Tech – 274
6. Duke – 257
7. Notre Dame – 216
8. Florida State – 213
9. Miami – 211
10. Pitt – 163.5
11. Georgia Tech – 158
12. Boston College – 100

Men:

1. NC State – 585
2. Louisville – 332.5
3. Virginia – 317
4. Virginia Tech – 308.5
5. Notre Dame – 286
6. Florida State – 263.5
7. North Carolina – 216
8. Pitt – 209.5
9. Georgia Tech – 187
10. Duke – 133
11. Miami – 74
12. Boston College – 64